Not the heads but the system should change
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This is not an earthquake but a volcanic eruption. What is happening in the Malayalam film industry right now is not an earthquake that destroys injustices. Rather, the pre-simmering anger erupts in a favourable situation. Sunday’s resignations were not motivated by an ethical outcry; they were more the lack of an escape route due to the stress of circumstances. When actor Siddique resigned from the position of general secretary of 'Amma', the Association of Movie Artists (AMMA) and director Ranjith resigned from the post of president of the Kerala Film Academy, when he was convinced that there were no other options. The actress assault incident in 2017 should have prompted the government and film organisations for a deep investigation and correction. Seeing that neither the government nor the star organisation 'Amma' was moving, a few women were forced to take the initiative and form a group called 'Women in Cinema Collective' (WCC). It was only when the government had to give in to the determination of the actress, who shouted 'I am not a victim but a survivor', that the study and investigation committee was appointed under the leadership of Justice Hema. However, despite submitting the committee's report to the government, no action was taken on it for four and a half years. Has the government, which is now arguing that there are limitations in conducting criminal prosecution, at least heeded its other recommendations? The culture minister told the media that he had not read it. The indifference of the government despite receiving a detailed study report about the wrongdoings of the film industry should shock us.
The presence of WCC, the larger public and activists is the reason why there is so much movement today, not the government, 'Amma' or celebrities. The government did not budge even when it was demanded under the Right to Information Act to release the report of the Hema Committee, which had been under lock and key. The Right to Information Commission, chaired by Vinson Paul, also rejected the appeal to release the report. It was the next chairman Dr. Abdul Hakeem who ruled that the Hema Committee report should be released, omitting some parts on the grounds of personal privacy. Even after the High Court dismissed the obstruction argument raised by some against it, there were moves to block the disclosure of the report. Finally, the report was released in a situation where there is no other option, or certain parts that the Information Commission has recommended for disclosure will be omitted. However, the released sections themselves reveal serious maladies. Following this, allegations surfaced against Ranjith and Siddique. Even then, the Culture Minister took the approach of protecting the accused. Pointing out legal technicalities, people are witnessing that the government has taken the approach that it can file a case only if the victims complain, and for four and a half years, they have not even taken other possible steps on the Hema report.
Even though the report prepared by the responsible inquiry commission with evidence and statements has provided shocking details about the violence against women in the film world, is the government still not obliged to look for ways to eliminate injustice? If our governance systems are so inept that even a judicial committee's report is irrelevant, is it to hide it that the 'Left Progressive' government should try to do? The state government, despite having a clear picture of the exploitation faced by helpless women in the workplace, was part of the problem and not the solution. Kerala realised that the 'feminist' protectors not only in the film industry but also in the administration did not stand with the victims when the power systems did all they could to corner a number of vulnerable women. At least the government should leave the side of the predators and stand on the side of the exploited; proactive measures should be taken. We could keep arguing with legal hair-splitting. However, the fact is that the Internal Complaint (IC) system, the 'Amma', the Culture Department and many other centres have forsaken the trust that ordinary filmmakers have in them. The problem cannot be solved by changing a few people at the top. Mechanisms that protect exploiters must be dismantled; they should be replaced by those that protect the exploited.
