Charmila: Even since the release of the Hema Committee report, the Malayalam Film industry has been facing major turmoil. All the actresses who have faced something related to sexual abuse are coming forward and talking about their worst experiences. Amid the ongoing #MeToo row, a Malayalam actress Charmila talked about her threatening experience. The incident happened 27 years ago when she was sexually assaulted by a film producer.
Mollywood Actress Charmila’s Traumatic #MeToo Experience
‘Kadal’ actress Charmila, 49 once 27 years ago experienced something worse than one could imagine. The actress revealed about her situation in an interview with News18. Her experience with the Malayalam Film Industry was not delightful. She addressed the incident during the shooting of the film ‘Arjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum.’ She said,’ We were shooting a song in Tamil Nadu’s Pollachi where the incident took place.’ ‘After the three-day shoot was concluded, my production manager asked me to meet the producer.’ She asked her assistant to come with her. But, the manager didn’t want the assistants to tag along but she took them either way.
When she reached the producer’s room, there were seven to eight people drinking alcohol. She said, ‘One of them attacked her assistant and tried to strip her while the other tried to put his hands on me.’ ‘My male assistant present on the scene tried to stop him and was beaten.’
Amid all of this, a man grabbed her hand, she bit him and ran out of the hotel. A group of Rickshaw drivers came forward and helped her to call her father. Her father then called Kalaignar’s wife Rajathi Ammal and the police came. Charmila also stated that she Lost 28 films, simply because she didn’t want to “adjust” to the demands of sexual favors.
The Hema Committee Report
Charmila’s story came into the eyes after the release of the Hema Committee Report. This report consists of proof of work culture, discrimination and harassment against Malayalam actresses. The Hema Committee is formed after the demand of Women in Cinema Collective’s petition. Its members are retired High Court Justice K Hema, actor Sharada and retired IAS officer Valsala Kumari. Formed in 2017, this committee first released its report in 2019 and submitted it to Kerala Government.
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