The Malayalam film industry is facing a reckoning as multiple FIRs have been registered against prominent actors and directors for alleged sexual assault. The wave of accusations follows the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report, which revealed widespread allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation within the industry.
One of the most prominent figures accused is actor Jayasurya, who is now facing two separate cases. The first case, registered on August 28, pertains to sexual misconduct. The second, filed on August 29, accuses him of molesting an actress at a film set between 2012 and 2013.
Meanwhile, another high-profile case has been registered against prominent Malayalam actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh. An actress accused him of raping her years ago, leading to the registration of a rape case against him on August 29.
Earlier, on August 28, actor Siddique was booked by Thiruvananthapuram Museum police for allegedly raping an actress in a hotel eight years ago. Following the allegations, Siddique resigned as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).
The first case registered in this recent wave of accusations was against director Ranjith. An actress from West Bengal filed a complaint alleging that Ranjith harassed her in 2009. Following the news, Ranjith stepped down from his position as chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
The Justice Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case. Their report, released this month, uncovered instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. In response to the growing number of accusations, the state government announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) on August 25 to investigate the allegations.
The recent developments have sparked a conversation about the prevalence of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, prompting a wave of calls for accountability and systemic change. The SIT’s investigation and the subsequent legal proceedings are expected to shed light on the extent of the problem and bring about necessary reforms to protect women in the industry.
