India’s Malyalam film industry rocked by #MeToo abuse claims

Image source : The South First

Malayalam, one of the regional industries in India has recently come under the scanner following the #MeToo movement. Launched world over in 2017, the movement that started with the idea of testing the art work of the industry, has come out with the ugly reality of the industry that is famous for its progressive storytelling and masterpieces.

It started with the actress Sreelekha Mitra who boldly pointed at several big personalities of the industry as sexual harassers. Her bold statement came in for the next one and the next until people were coming forward in droves with similar stories. Such exposures were complemented by a Government report that sought to unveil pervasiveness of the vice in the industry, and hear the many stories of victims who could easily have been silenced due to threats of being fired.

The effect of these allegations has been far-reaching. There are examples of their resignations, some people resigned from their positions in the large companies. It was once considered a creative genius’s hub, but now it has received a wakeup call and put through the public scanner over its handling of such matters.

This scandal has also led to the discussions about the issues in the Malayalam film industry as a whole. It brings in the social relations that have enabled such an abuse happen for years without being checked. Through word of mouth and eye sight, the public and the media have been forcing the industry to ask itself, is enough being done to protect its workers, especially women?

This is an experience similar to #MeToo happening all over the world and it proves that the Malayalam film industry is also not spared from abuse and harassments. While the industry comes to terms with such revelations, comes the paradox in dealing with the same identifies a challenge on how best to tackle such problems and ensure positive cultural changes