Context
The Justice Hema Committee report recently exposed pervasive sexual exploitation and rights violations against women in the Malayalam film industry.
About
- Five years ago, the report was submitted to the Kerala government.
- The committee recognized at least 17 forms of exploitation experienced by women working in 30 exceptional categories in the industry.
- Key issues included the casting couch, lack of simple services, and threats against filing proceedings.
- The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of “casting couch” within the industry.
Background
- The 3-member committee, which included retired High Court Justice K. Hema, former actress Sharada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, was established in response to a demand from the Women in Cinema Collective.
- This demand accompanied the abduction and sexual attack of a main lady actor in 2017—a case that remains in trial, with outstanding actor Dileep listed as the 8th accused.
Major Concerns
- Producers are warned by the industry’s “power group” not to cast actors who fall out of favour with them.
- Even the release of movies can be avoided as the Film Chamber of Commerce has to issue NOC.
- The report highlights the shortage of changing rooms or rest room facilities on the set, specifically in outside places, leading to urinary infection for many women.
- Junior artists are in a few cases “treated worse than slaves” with works extending up to 19 hours.
- The loss of a written contract is exploited by some to deprive the actors and technicians of even the remuneration promised orally.
- Another alarming finding is that many men assume that women inclined to carry out intimate scenes on-screen also are inclined to accomplish that off-set, reflecting a lack of professionalism and understanding of the craft among men within the industry.
Way Ahead
- The release of the Justice Hema Committee report marks a vital moment for the Malayalam film industry, as it confronts long standing issues of exploitation and gender inequality.
- The findings demand urgent attention from civil society and industry leaders to cope with and rectify those deep-seated problems.
- The Hema Committee file recommends putting in place a civil court-like tribunal to cope with severe issues faced by women employed in the Malayalam film industry.
Source: The Hindu