A potential second wave of the #MeToo movement has been triggered in Kerala following the release of a report by the Hema Committee, which revealed shocking instances of harassment and abuse faced by women in the Malayalam movie industry. The latest accusations come from popular Mollywood actress Minu Muneer, who has accused four co-stars of ‘physical and verbal assaults’ over several years.
Minu Muneer, in a Facebook post, alleged that she suffered physical and verbal abuse from actors Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, and Jayasurya, during the filming of a 2013 movie. These accusations come just a day after Malayalam director Ranjith resigned from his position as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy following accusations of ‘misconduct’ by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. Additionally, actor Siddique resigned from the General Secretary post of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) after junior artist Revathy Sampath made allegations of sexual assault against him.
Minu Muneer’s accusations paint a disturbing picture of the Malayalam film industry’s culture of abuse. She alleged that a prominent Malayalam actor attempted to assault her at a hotel during the shooting of ‘Calender’ (2009) and ‘Nadakame Ulakam’ (2011), stating that he pulled her down on a bed and pressured her to engage in sexual acts. She also claimed that another actor had made unwanted advances during a car journey, and later knocked on her door at night.
Muneer further accused Jayasurya of misconduct in 2008, alleging that he kissed her from behind while she was returning from a restroom during a shoot. She claims that she pushed him away and ran. She also alleged that he invited her to his apartment, but she rejected his advances.
Regarding Idavela Babu, a prominent leader of AMMA, Muneer stated that she applied for membership in the association in 2013. She alleged that when she called him about the application process, he invited her to his flat. She alleges that while she was filling out the application, he kissed her on the neck from behind, prompting her to run out of the apartment. She never received the membership.
Muneer alleged that actor Mukesh, a two-time MLA of the ruling CPI(M), denied her membership in the association after she rejected his advances. She reported that these experiences forced her to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai.
The actors accused have yet to publicly respond to these allegations. However, Maniyanpilla Raju has requested a thorough investigation into the accusations, suggesting that there may be ulterior motives behind the allegations against him.
These accusations have brought the dark underbelly of the Malayalam film industry to light, exposing a culture of abuse and harassment. The #MeToo movement in Kerala, fueled by these recent allegations, is raising serious questions about the industry’s power structures and its responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of its female members.
