The reports and revelations coming from Kerala about sexual abuse, harassment, exploitation in the Malayalam film industry are reminders of the underbelly of glamour and politics.
Men and boys, we show our manhood through the way we treat our women. Our colleagues, our wives, our sisters, our mothers.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Women’s safety and its issues are discussed and debated all around the globe. Still, every year the number of reports on sexual harassment is increasing at an alarming rate. We continue to say that we are living in modern times where women finally have the agency to break the glass ceiling more easily and achieve their goals. However, the ground reality is a far cry from sunshine and rainbows. Women’s workforce participation rate remains low, and they continue to face safety issues. There are enough news reports to show the gruesome situation women face at workplaces, and these are a clear example of lack of safety. The series of reports and revelations coming from Kerala about sexual abuse, harassment, misuse of power and exploitation allegations in the Malayalam film industry are reminders of the underbelly of glamour and politics. After five years of waiting, the report of the Justice Hema Commission was made public. The Commission was established in 2018 under the retired Justice K. Hema to review the scope and magnitude of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, also known as Mollywood.
What has followed is a series of women, be it actresses or those working in the Mollywood industry, coming forward with allegations of harassment and exploitation (sexual and otherwise). The names put under question are genuinely shocking, spanning not merely from the actors and directors but also members of politics and beyond. This has sparked serious concerns about the status of women, not merely in the entertainment industry but women in workplaces everywhere. The uproar it has generated in Kerala, and nationwide, showcases the trend in society towards a growing consciousness about these issues. In such a light, the episode raises critical issues that demand thoughtful consideration. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
First, it raises more significant questions and thoughts about the working of commissions/committee reports by the government that are shrouded under secrecy. Bringing transparency to these committee reports and other more extensive government policy-making mechanisms is necessary. There is a growing anger amongst the public against obfuscation and lack of transparent measures. Now, for the public to be upset about government’s delayed response is natural, as such measures underscore the hypocrisy of the communist government that is apparently trying to shield the accused.
Meanwhile, the intellectual class at the forefront of asking for transparency and accountability is selective and silent on the issue. Barring a few exceptions, the problem is not given the importance it deserves. Remember the wokes and ultraliberals during Covid-19 who went crazy asking to release data and information about the PM Cares fund? Now, they have embraced silence.
Second, it is a far larger issue than Malayalam cinema; it concerns women across the entertainment industry and in workplaces everywhere. The Women in Cinema Collective, the organisation formed in the aftermath of the 2017 assault that triggered the formation of the Justice Hema Commission, should be commended for taking up the initiative and its persistent effort to make the report public.
It should also be noted that exploitation is not limited to actresses but goes to different levels of hierarchy within the industry, including the junior artists and supporting staff who are more vulnerable to such advances by the controlling regimes in the industry. The fact that people are underpaid and overexploited for their work through less or no compensation showcases a disturbing trend in regulating the workplace environment. Women are indeed the worst victims, for this idea of the “casting couch” is not merely an attack on their talent and hard work but also their dignity. So far, the government has remained elusive in its response. However, the need of the hour is for the government to come out in support of the victims and formulate workplace norms that prevent such incidents.
Third, the most important thing at this stage is to remember that we must stand united against harassment of any kind. Exploitation, bullying or coercion, no matter how innocuous it may seem, are not acceptable. A verbal comment about an inappropriate gesture or a touch should not be tolerable. The dragged response by the Kerala government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is a welcome step, but it is not enough.
The industry is world-renowned for its progressive nature and the themes it addresses, but the presence of such widespread and systemic problems is a dark spot on its image. Undoubtedly, the dictum of innocent until proven guilty is key at this stage, but what makes the Kerala government stand in the way of justice? If the accused are falsely blamed, the government has more reasons to take a stand and facilitate legal action to ensure that justice is promptly meted out and the truth is revealed.
One thing is clear—women need to feel as safe as men do at workplaces. So organizations and the government need to join hands to enforce stricter laws and safety policies if we want to ensure equal participation of women in the workforce. While the POSH Act provides the legal teeth, what’s even more necessary is to create an inclusive and respectful culture among all workers. This can be done only by educating and training the staff. And that is the only way to build a culture where women can voice their opinions and be themselves, free of inhibitions or fear.
While the Prime Minister spearheads the campaign of Nari Shakti, where women-driven development is viewed as a key force to push India towards the Viksit Bharat vision, the Kerala episode showcases the existing problems and resistance within the system that seems unwilling to change. Women’s rights and liberty to work without fear and exploitation are not societal ideals but basic necessities. The harrowing news that we witnessed recently, including in Kolkata, should make our skin crawl and open our eyes to these societal ills. The government should stand for higher ideals, not serve its political party and members. This #MeToo moment in the Malayalam film industry should be a wake-up call for everyone, and there is a severe need to revisit and rethink the role of women in the workplace.
Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is the Vice Chancellor of JNU