Kochi: Serious allegations against prominent Malayalam film actors have emerged from the Hema Committee report. Female film industry workers have revealed the severe physical and psychological abuse they have faced. The fact that women encounter significant difficulties even in fulfilling basic needs reflects the attitude of the Malayalam film industry towards women. Although there are film organizations in the state to discuss and address the needs of film workers, these organizations often seem more interested in barring actors and denying employment. A major revelation in the Hema Committee report states that a power group of 10-15 top Malayalam film personalities controls the industry.
This group includes actors, producers, distributors, and directors. They control the film industry. The report indicates that this group has barred several individuals from the industry. Many people have testified before the panel that prominent actors have been barred from films in violation of the law.
The report states that even trivial matters where individuals were not identified as part of the power group have led to retaliatory actions. Besides the power group, some associations and unions have been found to bar actors, though the specifics of these bans are often kept secret. Production controllers play a significant role in implementing these bans. A well-known Malayalam actor described this power group as a “mafia gang,” as pointed out in the report.
