Probe sexual exploitation of women in cinema: Opposition tells Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition UDF in Kerala, led by Congress, demanded a police probe into the sexual exploitation of women in cinema in Kerala following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. The report, containing shocking revelations on how women in the film industry are being sexually exploited, was finally released on Monday. Kerala's Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan, slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government for keeping this report in cold storage since 2019, IANS reported.

Justice Hema (retd) submitted her report in 2019 after being appointed by the Vijayan government in 2017, which cost the state government Rs 1.50 crore. However, it was only after a long-drawn legal battle that the report was released on Monday, even amid last-minute attempts to delay the release.

"This is a grave crime done by the Vijayan government, and we wish to know why this report was kept in cold storage. Was it to save those who did the exploitation? The need of the hour is a special police probe team headed by a top woman IPS official who brings to book all the wrong-doers, whosoever they are and wherever they are placed," said Satheesan. Incidentally, state Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian said he has been the Minister for the past over three years and to date, no complaint of any exploitation has come before him.

"Now a report has been published, and it speaks of such things, but I am ready to order a probe if there is any complaint. I wish to inform all that no one needs to be worried, and any woman coming with a complaint will face no duress," he said. "We are holding a conclave in the next few months wherein all leading lights of the film industry from various segments will be invited, and a threadbare discussion will take place, and all burning issues will be addressed," Cherian added.

The Hema Committee's 289-page report's opening reads: "The sky is full of mysteries, with the twinkling stars and the beautiful moon. However, scientific investigation revealed that stars do not twinkle, and the moon does not look beautiful. The study, therefore, cautions: 'Do not trust what you see, even salt looks like sugar'."

"The experiences that many women have gone through in cinema are really shocking and are of such gravity that they have not disclosed those details even to close family members. Surprisingly, in the course of our study, we came to know that certain men also had suffered a lot of issues in the industry, and many of them, including some very prominent artists, were unauthorisedly banned from working in cinema for a considerable length of time. It was shocking to know that the sole reason for such unauthorised banning was due to very silly reasons. They would have knowingly or unknowingly 'invited wrath of one or other person from the powerful lobby in the industry, which rules the industry," it said. "The major issue which women face in the film industry is sexual harassment. It is the worst evil which women in cinema face in the film industry. Most of the women in cinema, who are known to be very bold, are reluctant and hesitant to divulge their bad experiences in cinema, particularly of sexual harassment. They are scared to disclose it even to their colleagues in the cinema, fearing consequences which they may have to face. They are afraid that if they divulge their issues to others, they will be banned from cinema and subjected to other harassment since such persons are powerful in cinema, and all men in cinema will stand together by them. By using fans and fan clubs, there would be severe online harassment against them (women artists) on social media. They would also face a threat to life, not only to themselves but even to their close family members, as stated by various witnesses. They are, thus, silenced in cinema," the Justice Hema report said.

"According to women in cinema, the harassment starts from the very inception. It is revealed from the statements of various witnesses who were examined before the committee that the production controller or whoever gives an offer for a role in cinema first' approaches the woman/girl or if it is the other way and, a woman approaches any person in cinema seeking a chance in cinema, she is told that she has to make 'adjustments' and "compromise" to take her in cinema. 'Compromise' and 'adjustment' are two terms which are very familiar among women in the Malayalam film industry, and they are asked to make themself available for sex on demand."

"There may be instances of consensual sex, but women in cinema, generally, are not willing to share a bed to get a chance in cinema. Another witness stated before the committee that there may also be women who would be willing to adjust to the demands, and she has seen certain mothers who are conniving at the situation and believe that there is nothing wrong with it. The witness stated that this is a shocking reality. According to women in cinema, it is a sad state of affair that a woman has to surrender to sexual demands for her to get a job in cinema, whereas there is no such state of affair in any other field, it was pointed out by many witnesses who are examined before the committee," states the report.