In a significant development, members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an advocacy group actively promoting women’s rights and gender equality within the Malayalam film industry, met with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s office in the Government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on the morning of Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Though concise in its duration, the timing of this meeting gave it considerable weight as it followed closely on the heels of the Kerala High Court’s stern reprimand towards the state government regarding the inaction on the Hema Committee report.
Sources revealed that WCC representatives, including notable figures such as Rima Kallingal, Revathy, Beena Paul, and Deedi Damodaran, were in attendance. The specifics of their discussions remain confidential as of now. However, speculation suggests that the WCC members might have presented their perspectives on the government’s plans for a cinema conclave, scheduled to be held in 2025. The collective possibly requested the government’s support in safeguarding women’s rights within the cinema workplace, making calls for a more democratic and fair working environment through numerous reforms, including the establishment of a regulatory authority.
Moreover, discussions reportedly also touched upon the current presence of a powerful clique at the helm of the Malayalam film industry. This clique is alleged to wield significant influence, with the ability to make or break the careers of actors, technicians, producers, and directors. While these claims have been firmly denied by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which remains the most influential body in the field, the controversy nonetheless persists.
The urgency and gravity of the WCC’s meeting with the Chief Minister were further underscored by the High Court’s harsh critique of the government’s five-year inactivity regarding the Hema Committee report. The report, which has been kept under wraps, addresses extensive issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry including workplace safety, gender pay disparities, non-payment of wages, and substandard working conditions such as inadequate access to toilets, cloakrooms, and poor-quality food.
The High Court had made it clear that the alleged delay by the government in initiating legal action on the Hema Committee report was “alarmingly lethargic.
.” This had, in turn, given opposition parties, Congress and the BJP, ample ammunition to criticize the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s touted pro-women stance. It has also raised pressing concerns regarding the overall safety and well-being of women employed within the state’s film industry.
In parallel developments, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been convened by the government to delve into allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation within the industry. These allegations have come to light following the recent partial release of the Hema Committee report. The SIT’s imminent investigation aims to verify the incidents of abuse catalogued by the quasi-judicial panel. Notably, the High Court has mandated the government to transfer all findings from the committee to the SIT, which includes four women IPS officers.
According to a senior official linked to the investigation, the SIT will treat the survivors’ testimonies and the collected evidence, including digital proofs, as “first information.” This means that the SIT plans to initiate legal proceedings based on them. The team is expected to meet with the survivors discreetly and record their statements in-camera within a magistrate’s court to ensure their safety and privacy, before proceeding with further judicial action.
The thorough approach suggested by the SIT aims to address the myriad issues highlighted by the Hema Committee comprehensively, thereby setting a precedence for workplace reform and safety within the Malayalam cinema industry. The ongoing scenario, shaped significantly by the actions and strategies of the WCC, the state government, and the judiciary, seems poised to bring about substantial change in the industry, promoting not just gender equality, but also ensuring a more transparent and secure working environment for all involved.
As events unfold, the outcomes of these pivotal meetings and investigations could lead to landmark reforms that may have a lasting impact, not just on the Malayalam film industry, but potentially setting a precedent for other regional film industries across India. The coming days and months will be crucial in determining how these efforts bear fruit and contribute to the larger movement for gender equality and justice.
