Two weeks after the release of the K Hema Committee report, spotlighting issues plaguing several Indian film industries, members of the Kannada film industry (KFI) have taken a decisive stand. Reacting to widespread concerns and inspired by actor Sruthi Hariharan’s call for a similar panel in Sandalwood, the Film Industry For Rights and Equality (FIRE) has formally requested the Karnataka government to establish a committee led by a retired judge. This committee aims to investigate and report on the issues faced by women in the industry, including sexual harassment.
FIRE, a non-profit organization founded during the #MeToo movement in 2018, aims to combat sexual harassment and exploitative practices in the industry. It was formed in the wake of Sruthi Hariharan’s accusations against actor Arjun Sarja. About three years after Sruthi lodged her complaint, the case was closed by the police citing a lack of evidence. The organization’s leadership includes filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh as president and actor Chetan Ahimsa as secretary.
On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, FIRE submitted a comprehensive letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, highlighting the urgent need for measures to create a safe and equitable working environment for women in the film industry. The document, endorsed by 153 members, features notable personalities such as actors Sudeep, Ramya, Kishore, Vinay Rajkumar, Sruthi Hariharan, Shraddha Srinath, Pooja Gandhi, Aindrita Ray, Diganth Manchale, Chaitra J Achar, and Samyukta Hegde. Filmmakers B Suresha, Mansore, Jayatheertha, K M Chaitanya, and Pawan Kumar have also lent their support.
Kavitha Lankesh emphasized the persistence of harassment in the film industry, stating, “Women have faced harassment in the film industry from time immemorial. Those who were not cooperative to the whims and fancies of influential people were thrown out of the industry. Women who question injustice face the danger of losing opportunities. That’s what happened with Sruthi as well.”
Reflecting on the systemic issues, Kavitha disclosed that many women have felt compelled to remain silent or face prolonged legal battles that hinder their careers. “Women have complained in the past, but industry bigwigs have quietened them down. Some female artistes get into legal battles that get dragged for ages, and their careers take a hit,” she elaborated.
To address these entrenched problems, FIRE has called for a thorough investigation into the systemic issues faced by women in KFI, including sexual harassment. The organization also seeks the development of policies designed to ensure a healthy and equitable work environment for women.
The letter to the Chief Minister proposed appointing a retired judge from the High Court or Supreme Court, with a demonstrated commitment to gender justice, to head the committee. This move, FIRE believes, would mark a significant step towards addressing the challenges women face in the film industry.
. “We propose a retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court who has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender justice over her/his years of service be appointed to head the committee,” the letter read. The organization is urging immediate governmental action to address these pressing issues.
The impact of the K Hema Committee report has extended beyond Karnataka, with similar allegations of sexual harassment emerging from the Malayalam film industry. Prominent figures from Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi film industries have also voiced their concerns, highlighting the need for safer working conditions for female artistes. Cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman, who has extensive experience working in the Kannada film industry, spoke out on the matter.
“Even though I have always worked in a professional film set with the availability of all basic needs for women, one can’t deny the fact that there is a big harassment factor when it comes to actresses and junior artistes,” said Preetha, a member of FIRE. “Most of them in the industry know how production executives treat actresses and where the mistakes happen. People in positions of power exploit those daily wage labourers in the film industry. We must have zero tolerance towards unfair expectations from women,” she opined.
Author and screenwriter Sandhya Rani reiterated the known challenges faced by women in the film industry, which have only recently been openly discussed thanks to the Hema Committee report. “The harassment faced by women in the film industry was a known truth. It was the elephant in the room. Only after the Hema Committee report has there been an open discussion on the problem,” she stated.
Sandhya further highlighted the precariousness of women’s positions in the industry due to the lack of fixed working hours and guidelines on film sets. “Women in the film industry are vulnerable because a film set doesn’t function with fixed timing and guidelines. Men in strong positions make rules that work in their favour even if they cross the line. That’s why you see those accused continuing to receive work while those who question them get sidelined by the industry,” she added.
Kavitha Lankesh stressed the necessity of equal treatment on film sets as a benchmark for safety. “It’s important to treat everyone equally on a film set. I have heard stories of women asked to work for long hours even during their periods. How you treat women and junior artistes defines how safe your film set is,” she concluded.
