Kochi: The Hema Committee report has revealed numerous issues faced by actresses in the Malayalam film industry, including sexual harassment, lack of basic facilities such as toilets and changing rooms, gender discrimination, and disparities in remuneration. The three-member committee, consisting of Justice K. Hema, K.B. Vatsalakumari, and actress Sharada, submitted the report.
The report includes testimony from an actress who recounted having to act as a wife the day after enduring sexual exploitation. The report details that she had to perform intimate scenes with the same person who had abused her, leading to severe mental and physical distress, and resulting in multiple takes—up to 17 shots—after which she had to face reprimands from the director.
The report highlights a prevailing notion in the industry that “women enter cinema only for money, and thus are willing to tolerate anything.” The commission criticized the male-dominated industry for failing to consider whether a woman’s interest in cinema is driven by passion for art and acting.
It was found that complaints about exploitation are often suppressed because those who oppose such abuse are branded as troublemakers and expelled from the industry. The report is based on various forms of evidence, including oral testimonies, WhatsApp messages, audio, and video clips. It also reveals that women who file complaints face not only expulsion from the industry but also cyberattacks and defamatory campaigns.
