The Malayalam film industry, known as Mollywood, is facing a wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations, following the recent accusation against actor Nivin Pauly. A 40-year-old woman filed a complaint alleging that Pauly was involved in a gang rape in Dubai over a year ago. The police registered an FIR under Section 376 of the IPC at Oonnukal police station, naming six accused, including Pauly as the sixth.
Pauly vehemently denied the allegations, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the report was “entirely untrue” and vowed to “go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless.” He also promised to take necessary steps to bring those responsible for spreading the false accusations to light.
This case comes in the wake of the Justice K Hema Committee report, commissioned by the Kerala government in response to the 2017 actress assault case. The report revealed widespread harassment and exploitation of women within the industry, leading to the formation of a seven-member special investigation team on August 25th to address these allegations.
Following the report’s release, actor Sidhique and director Ranjith Balakrishnan became the first to face accusations of sexual offenses. Both sought protection from arrest in the Kerala High Court. Ranjith Balakrishnan claims the accusations against him stem from the complainant’s “disappointment and resentment” over not being cast in a film, alleging that vested interests are using the situation to remove him as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. He also stated his recent liver transplantation surgery requires significant medical attention, adding to his plea for legal protection.
Sidhique, facing charges under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation), maintains that the complainant, a female actor, has subjected him to “prolonged campaign of harassment and false accusations since 2019.”
The unfolding events in Mollywood highlight a deep-rooted issue of power dynamics and abuse within the film industry. The Justice Hema Committee report and the subsequent allegations underscore the need for systemic change to protect women and ensure a safer environment for everyone involved in filmmaking. It remains to be seen how the ongoing investigations will proceed and what impact they will have on the future of Malayalam cinema.
