The Justice K Hema Committee report on the condition of women in the Malayalam film industry, which was finally released this week, said that the male-dominated industry is ruled by a "mafia", which includes some top actors, and women actors face a harrowing time at work.
The Committee mentions that its members were in a state of shock after hearing the testimonies. The 289-page report states that the "mafia" in the film industry is controlled by a section of the directors, producers, and male actors and all those who raise a complaint are sidelined and subjected to untold miseries.
One actress had testified that she had to take a shot 17 times with a person who had troubled her and due to that, the director and others were angry. The report also reveals that the casting couch is prevalent in the film industry with the worst affected being those who act in small roles, particularly if they want to be considered for more roles.
During its study, the committee discovered that junior artistes face very serious issues in the Malayalam film industry and are “treated worse than slaves on certain sets.” The report states that this group is not provided even basic facilities, including toilets, on sets despite being required to be present on-site for as long as 19 hours on certain days.
In short, the report points out that the glitter of the industry is only on the surface covering the ugly side of the male-dominated film industry underneath. It remains to be seen how CM Pinarayi Vijayan government will deal with this report.
