The Justice Hema Committee Report released on August 19 highlights the workplace conditions and issues faced by women in Malayalam cinema. The 235-page report was submitted to the Kerala government five years ago in 2019.
The report highlights severe discrimination that includes inhuman working conditions, sexual exploitation, alcohol abuse, and wage disparity. As per many media reports, the report has been released with the names of the accused and victims censored.
It highlights how a small number of male producers, directors, and performers control the majority of the Malayalam cinema industry. It further mentions that women in cinema are often asked to make adjustments and compromises, which basically hints to women being available for sex when demanded, as per a Bar and Bench report.
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It reportedly says, “compromise" and "adjustment" are two terms that are very familiar among women in the Malayalam film industry, and thereby they are asked to make themselves available for sex on demand.” The harassment, the report adds, starts “from the very inception.”.
The report has been released after there were demands from the Women in Cinema Collective about the same. The collective urged the court to look into the problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. This demand was made after a leading actor was sexually assaulted and abducted in February 2017.
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Following this, in 2017, a three-member committee comprising Justice Hema, actor Sharada, and former bureaucrat KB Valsalakumar was formed.
Confirming the existence of “casting couch” which is mostly managed by the producer of the film, the report highlights that discrimination starts from the beginning- even before the role is offered to the women. The victims displayed WhatsApp texts and video footage as evidence of the casting couch attempts.
Further, newcomers are often told that successful women in the industry have achieved the position through compromise, indicating the sexual favors that are being asked of the women.
The report adds, “It is revealed from the statements of various witnesses who were examined before the committee that the production controller or whoever gives an offer for a role in cinema first approaches the woman/girl of it; if it is the other way, and a woman approaches any person in cinema seeking a chance in cinema, she is told that she has to make "adjustments" and "compromise" to take her in cinema.”
The committee has recommended that the government should form a tribunal that will address the challenges faced by women. Further, the report suggests that forming an internal complaints committee won’t be helpful, as powerful people might dominate and influence the working of the committee.
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