Two women accuse Biriyani director of sexual abuse after his praising Hema Committee report

In a recent development, two women in the Malayalam film industry have come forward with serious allegations against filmmaker Sajin Baabu, known for his film Biriyaani. The women, both of whom were relative newcomers at the time of the incidents, have accused Sajin of sexual misconduct, describing disturbing encounters that took place during their early careers, The News Minute reported.

The accusations surfaced after Sajin posted on Facebook, praising the Hema Committee report, which was released on August 19. The report highlighted the systemic harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The two women, who had previously deposed before the Committee, found Sajin’s post hypocritical and felt compelled to speak out.

The first woman, who was a crew member on one of Sajin’s films, recounted an incident where Sajin entered her room under the pretext of retrieving his belongings, allegedly locked the door, initiated a conversation, and then proceeded to inappropriately touch her.

She narrated the incident, describing how she felt both nervous and uncomfortable while it happened, saying she resisted his advances and made noise, prompting Sajin to leave the room. Despite this, he continued to find excuses to visit the room, further unsettling her.

TNN report suggests that the victim confided in another artist on set, who offered support if she chose to report the incident. However, the victim decided not to escalate the matter at the time, instead opting to avoid Sajin whenever possible. It wasn’t until she attended a closed-door meeting with the Hema Committee that she realized she wasn’t alone.

Another woman shared a similar experience, revealing that she too had been targeted by Sajin. Her encounter with Sajin occurred several years ago before she entered the film industry. At the time, she was introduced to Sajin through a mutual friend to assist with translating a script. Sajin arranged for her to work in a private room, assuring her that he wouldn’t intrude.

However, once she began working, he entered the room and allegedly attempted to assault her. Despite her efforts to resist and escape, Sajin reportedly continued his inappropriate behaviour, only stopping when he heard her shouting.

Both women later received apologies from Sajin, who admitted to his misconduct. He attributed his actions to the patriarchal conditioning prevalent in society and claimed that he had since sought medical help to address his behaviour.

Sajin acknowledged the power dynamics at play and expressed regret over the harm he had caused. However, the women remained sceptical of his sincerity, questioning whether his apologies were part of a larger effort to maintain his public image as a progressive filmmaker.

Sajin’s Facebook post, which initially triggered the women’s decision to speak out, called for greater awareness and accountability in the film industry. He expressed hope that the Hema Committee report would lead to significant changes in women’s rights and safety, not only in the Malayalam film industry but across the country.

Despite this, the women remained unconvinced, criticizing what they saw as a facade of progressivism masking deeper issues.