A day after actor Mohanlal spoke out about the Hema committee report, Malayalam film superstar Mammootty echoed similar sentiments in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
Mammootty expressed support for the Hema committee report, noting that he had awaited the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) and its leadership to share their views before making his own statement. Like Mohanlal, Mammootty disputed claims in the report regarding the existence of a “power group” within the film industry.
He wrote, “Cinema is a cross-section of society. All of society’s good and bad are present in cinema too. But the film industry is also closely observed by society, which is why every small and big thing that happens there becomes a major subject of discussion.” He added that people in the film industry should be “careful and vigilant to ensure that nothing untoward happened around them.”
Commenting on the report, he said that certain incidents that should never have occurred in the film industry led the government to establish the committee to review and offer recommendations. “All of the committee’s proposed solutions and recommendations are wholeheartedly welcomed and will be supported. This is the time for all associations in the film industry to join hands to put aside differences and implement them,” he said in the post written in Malayalam.
Mammootty also noted that the police investigation into the complaints was progressing robustly and that the full committee report was now with the court. “Let the police conduct an honest investigation. Let the court decide on punishments,” he added.
However, the actor did not address the sexual harassment cases involving colleagues such as Siddique, Ranjith, or Maniyanpilla Raju, and neither he nor Mohanlal commented on the women who came forward to the Hema Committee or subsequently.
What is the Hema Committee report all about?
The Hema Committee, which was formed by the Kerala government in 2017, following a sexual assault row, shed light on the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Although it was submitted to the government in 2019, a redacted version of the report was made public in August 2024, after the Kerala High Court refused to stay its release.
The report detailed the rampant sexual abuse, deplorable working conditions and cabalistic practices prevalent in Malayalam cinema.
It said that sexual harassment is the ‘worst evil’ plaguing the industry, and it remains widespread and unchecked. The report also stressed on the inadequate provision of essential facilities for women at shooting locations, including toilets and changing rooms. As a result, women often avoid drinking water to avoid the inconvenience, which negatively impacted their health.
(Translation inputs from The News Minute)