The long-awaited Hema Committee Report, which finally sheds light on the hard reality women confront in the workplace, was released regarding the conditions experienced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The 235-page document—65 of which have been deleted for privacy reasons—has spurred heated debates over gender-based exploitation and sexual harassment in the industry after being kept secret for almost five years.
Culture of Sexual Exploitation and Harassment
The Hema Committee exposed a distressing culture of sexual exploitation and harassment, bringing to light enduring practices such as the casting couch, in which women are forced into providing sexual favours in order to land roles or stay off blacklists. Gender inequality is pervasive, particularly when it comes to compensation and the absence of fundamental workplace safeguards. Many of these safeguards, such internal complaints committees (ICC), are merely formalities.
V. Muraleedharan, speaking on the report, expressed outrage: “The government hid this report from public view for almost five years. No action was taken on specific harassment cases exposed by the commission. Women and even children face harassment, and it is shocking that the state government seems to have protected the accused.”
17 Forms of Exploitation Identified
The committee discovered 17 distinct types of exploitation that women experience in the industry, spanning from oppressive working conditions to sexual harassment, spanning 30 categories. Inadequate lodging and transportation put women’s safety at risk, aggravating the already dangerous situation.
Furthermore, the report discloses that women’s fundamental rights are frequently disregarded. On set, toilets and dressing rooms are usually unavailable, so women are forced to find other, frequently dangerous, options.
Online Harassment and Cyber Attacks
The challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film business are made worse by the increase in cyberattacks and online harassment. Due to disputes with influential industry lobbyists, prominent male artists have also been subject to industry restrictions, frequently without the necessary approval.
There hasn’t been any significant progress made in industry bodies like AMMA, despite numerous discussions. Some performers even minimised the dearth of basic utilities for women, dismissing their problems and pointing out that neighbours’ houses or other places could be used for bathroom breaks or changing clothing.
Driving the Demand for Change
Following the kidnapping and sexual assault of a prominent female actor in 2017, the Women in Cinema Collective was instrumental in pressuring for the establishment of the Hema Committee. The committee’s conclusions highlight the pressing need for reform in the industry, even if the trial is still ongoing and actor Dileep is still charged.
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