Days after resigning as President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), Malayalam film superstar Mohanlal said on Saturday that he is not affiliated with any power group within the Malayalam film industry and is unaware of such groups existing in the industry.
The 64-year-old actor addressed the media at a press event in Kochi for the first time since the release of a report by the Justice Hema Committee. The report highlighted allegations of harassment and exploitation of women professionals in the industry.
Mohanlal said that the Malayalam film industry is vast, involving thousands of people, and that AMMA could not always address the issues arising within it. He further asserted that if there is evidence of wrongdoing, those responsible should be held accountable.
“AMMA is not a trade union. It is like a family. It is unfortunate that the association is being hounded. The state of our (Malayalam) industry is better than other film industries,” he said.
“I have also given my statement to the Hema Commission in my capacity as an actor and producer. I welcome the observations of the committee. The culprits should definitely be brought before the law. This is the task of the police. We will cooperate in every way possible… Other industries should also have a Hema Committee report. Let this be a significant moment in the film industry, starting with Malayalam cinema,” the actor added, as quoted by The Indian Express.
Further, Mohanlal justified his silence on the recent discussions about sexual harassment explaining that he has been occupied with post-production work for his directorial debut, Barroz, and his wife’s surgery. However, the actor avoided several questions about the allegations made by Malayalam actors.
What is the Hema Committee report all about?
On August 19, the Kerala government released the Justice Hema Committee report, over four years after it was submitted to the Chief Minister. The 233-page report offers a scathing critique of the discrimination and exploitation endured by women in the Malayalam film industry.
On February 17, 2017, a prominent Malayalam film actress was abducted and sexually assaulted in her car by a group of men when she was travelling to Trissur from Kochi. Actor Dileep and 12 others were arrested in connection with the crime.
In response to the incident, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) was formed. On May 18, 2017, the WCC petitioned the Kerala Chief Minister for an inquiry into the incident and broader gender issues in the film industry.
In July, the state government established a three-member committee led by retired Judge K.H. Hema to investigate sexual harassment and gender inequality. After interviewing numerous women in the industry, the committee submitted a 295-page report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in December 2019.
The report revealed pervasive sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, including casting couch practices and inappropriate behaviour by male co-actors.
It also highlighted an influential all-male “mafia” that controls the industry, suppressing dissent. The male-dominated industry also fails to provide basic facilities for women, such as toilets and changing rooms on sets, the report said.
