New Delhi:

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called for changes to the “overall attitude in Indian society”, remarking also that “there must be something wrong with Indian men”, if there is to be any hope in controlling, if not eradicating, the horrid issue of violent crime against women.

Mr Tharoor’s strong criticism – particularly about there being “something wrong with Indian men if we can’t address this problem” – comes amid a deeply worrying flood of sexual assault allegations against senior members of the Kerala film industry, also called Mollywood.

Speaking to NDTV Friday, Mr Tharoor welcomed the exposure of widespread sexual assault of women, and men, in Mollywood, as well as police cases and the resignations, but stressed the real battle for gender equality lay in correcting the “degradation” of Indian society.

“I think there are many things coming out of the closet of our society… beginning with assaults against women. This goes back forever but is now talked about since the Nirbhaya tragedy of 2012 (a young woman gangraped and murdered in Delhi) and now, the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder of 2024 (a trainee doctor was raped murdered at a Kolkata hospital this month).”

“This is a span of a dozen years in which nothing seems to have changed!”

“Every Day… Some Woman Assaulted”

“Every day when I pick up the newspaper there is some incident… some woman has been assaulted. It could be a college student, a child, or a middle-aged lady. (There must be) something wrong with Indian men if we can’t address this problem…” Mr Tharoor told NDTV.

The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Tharoor also recalled a conversation with the late former Delhi Chief Minister after the Nirbhaya incident, in which had suggested “serious gender sensitivity instruction for schoolboys from a very young age”.

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“I hope something like that can be implemented… because we can’t go on having tragedy after tragedy. There is shock and horror and outrage (at first) but then it all subsides and we move on to the next tragedy. That doesn’t work. We need systematic change,” he stressed.

“Proud That Kerala Women Stood Up”

On the sexual assault charges that have roiled the Kerala film industry, Mr Tharoor said he was disappointed by the allegations but “proud” his home state is leading this #MeToo wave.

“I grew up in a household of strong women. I had two sisters and a mother who had strong views… and had independent ways of functioning in their own right,” he said of his background.

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“I am proud that the first place in India that has exposed what everyone says is going on, in every other film industry, is Kerala…. at least Kerala stood and up said, ‘this is not right’.”

He did, however, hit out at Kerala’s ruling CPIM for having “sat on it (the report on sexual assaults in Mollywood) for five years. “Inexcusable. It should have been released on the spot.”

On AMMA Resignations

Nearly a dozen cases have been filed against senior actors and filmmakers, including M Mukesh, who is also an MLA for the ruling CPI(M), accusing them of rape, sexual harassment, and molestation, since the release of the Justice Hema Committee report last week.

READ | Rape Case Against MLA And Actor Mukesh In Mollywood #MeToo Wave

The flurry of complaints have led to senior Mollywood figures resigning from state government panels or bodies associated with the film industry, and several members of a powerful actors’ body, called Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, quitting citing “moral responsibility”.

READ | Second Case Filed Against Actor Jayasurya In Mollywood #Metoo Row

This week veteran actor Mohanlal stepped down as President of AMMA, as too did members of its executive committee. Mr Tharoor recognised their action but insisted it was not enough.

READ | Mohanlal Quits As Malayalam Film Body AMMA Chief Amid ‘MeToo’ Storm

“(Of the) people who have resigned, in some cases, their own names have been taken by accusers… (resigning) is not just about moral responsibility… the fact is they presided over a system that allowed this to happen,” he pointed out.

“Right To Their Spaces”

The Congress leader also spoke about how assault against women, specifically at their workplaces, might be addressed, red-flagging women being denied even basic facilities, the lack of which forces them to occupy potentially unsafe spaces.

“Must (ensure) basic facilities… toilets for women and restrooms, areas where they can literally physically rest, whether in a hospital in Kolkata or on a film set are critical. Women should be recognised as having the right to their own space and being free of interference there.”

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Men invading that space, he said, must be told, in no uncertain terms, that such misbehaviour will warrant very severe punishment.

Outside Help For Women In Kerala Films

Mr Tharoor also stressed the need for an independent forum for women to lodge future complaints.

“In the workplace Vishaka Committee recommendations apply, and each company has its committee on sexual harassment. But clearly, if the industry is complicit, then this isn’t enough. So you need a tribunal with outside people in it…”

“One of the biggest tragedies in any workplace sexual harassment situation is that the woman feels she needs the job, or the money, or the opportunity and therefore sexual assault is the price to pay.”

“For generations, in every film industry, that seems to be what many women have gone through. And this is something that really, really should not be allowed.”

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Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday said that he would like to trust Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he said that if the victims of sexual abuses in the Malayalam film industry come forward then the process of law will be set in motion.

The Governor was reacting to the questions related to the Hema Committee report that revealed sexual abuses in the Malayalam film industry. The Opposition in Kerala has asked for an investigation into the revelations in the report.

“I think the chief minister on record said that if they come with specific complaints, the process will be set in motion. He has already said it. I am not saying anything because I do not deal with the subject,” Mr Khan said.

“But I would like to trust what the chief minister has said, that if the victims come forward and they file a complaint against those perpetrators, then the process of law will be set in motion,” he added.

The Kerala government has decided to form a special investigation team, led by a senior police officer, to investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

“In light of recent interviews and statements from several women in the Malayalam film industry detailing the hardships they have faced, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a meeting with senior police officials here on Sunday,” said an official release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

“It was decided to form a special investigation team, led by IGP G Sparjan Kumar, to look into these complaints and revelations.

“Following the release of the Hema Committee Report last week, which revealed numerous instances of sexual abuse in the film industry, many women have come forward, reporting experiences of sexual harassment in the industry.The CMO release stated that the investigation team would include senior women police officers and operate under the supervision of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh.

Last week, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report was made public, which revealed several instances of sexual harassment of female actors in the Malayalam film industry.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if any of those who testified before the Hema Commission come forward with complaints, appropriate action will be taken.

“No matter how high-ranking, everyone will be held accountable before the law,” he said.

On Saturday, Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded an investigation into the shocking allegations about the Malayalam film industry detailed in the report.

Justice Hema Committee report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals has revealed details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions in the Malayalam film industry.

Speaking to ANI, LoP VD Satheesan, said, “The government knows the fact that a series of offences have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to make an investigation team. We demand the government to constitute an investigation team.”

Last week a redacted version on the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It has recorded shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of women professionals.

The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is under the clutches of the about 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who are in the forefront and control the industry.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Malayalam film industry is grappling with allegations of harassment and sexual abuse, particularly against women professionals. The issue, which has been simmering under the surface for years, was thrust into the limelight following explosive findings of the Hema Committee. 

This 290-page report, commissioned by the Kerala government and headed by retired Justice K Hema revealed systemic harassment, abuse, and a “criminal nexus” within the industry, triggering high-profile resignations and public outcry.

High-Profile Resignations

The public release of the Hema Committee report has already led to fallout within the Malayalam film industry. Two high-profile figures, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, have resigned from their respective positions amid allegations of misconduct.

Ranjith, a prominent filmmaker and the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy resigned following accusations of inappropriate behaviour by a Bengali actress. The actress alleged that Ranjith misbehaved with her during a film shoot several years ago. However, Ranjith has denied the allegations, claiming that he is the “real victim”.

“I have been targeted by a certain section of people since the day I took charge as the Chairman of the Academy. I need to prove before the society that the allegations are untrue. I have decided to move legally and bring out the truth,” he was heard saying in an audio clip sent to a television channel, as reported by news agency PTI.

“Many people including the media are attacking me without understanding the truth. In this context, I have decided to step down from the post,” Ranjith added.

Actor Siddique, who served as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), also stepped down following allegations of sexual assault by an actress. She accused Siddique of sexually abusing her during a film discussion when she was just 21 years old.

Various members of AMMA, including vice president Jayan Cherthala and actor Anoop Chandran, have supported Siddique’s decision to step down arguing that it was morally and ethically correct.

What Is Hema Committee Report

The Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government in the aftermath of an assault case involving an actress. The actress alleged that she was assaulted by a group of men while travelling in 2017. The case made national headlines when actor Dileep, one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest names, was named as one of the accused. Dileep was arrested and kept in custody for three months before being released on bail.

The committee’s mandate was to investigate the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry and suggest measures to improve their safety and dignity.

The committee’s report, which took five years to see the light of day, details numerous instances of sexual harassment, exploitation, and gender discrimination faced by women in Malayalam cinema. The report highlights the existence of a “power nexus” within the industry, where a small group of influential men, including producers, directors, and actors, allegedly control the fate of women professionals. Those who refuse to comply with their demands are systematically ostracised and pushed out of the industry, the report says.

Political Fallout  

The release of the report has prompted strong reactions from political parties and public figures. The opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has called for a thorough investigation by a team of women IPS officers, while the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded strict action against those implicated in the report.

The Kerala State Women’s Commission has also taken up the issue, recommending the establishment of grievance redressal committees on film sets.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry has welcomed the release of the Hema Committee report.

“It has been a long journey for us! We believed that our fight for justice for all women wanting a dignified professional space in the film industry was the right fight. Today we stand vindicated. The publication of the Hema Committee report is another step that WCC has taken,” it said in a Facebook post.

Ranjith’s resignation has been welcomed by many, including state Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan, who said that the Left government in Kerala has always supported victims of sexual harassment.