The report released by the Justice K Hema Committee on the sexual harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry on August 19 has sparked immense outrage. It also led Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to announce that the state government is working towards formulating a comprehensive cinema law to ensure women’s safety. As a ripple effect, Women’s Forum for Screen Workers in the Bangla film industry has issued a charter of demands to reinforce dignity of women in workplace – that was signed by 50 actors and technicians.
Last week, actor Tanushree Dutta spoke to us exclusively and slammed the Hema Committee Report saying that committees and reports are ‘useless’ and the focus should be on ‘enforcing a strong law and order system’. And now, the Hema Committee Report has given rise to a conversation on whether a similar process should also be adopted in the Hindi film industry to protect the rights of women on a film set.
Writer Kanika Dhillon, who had earlier shed light on the gender bias she has faced in Bollywood and how it almost wreaked havoc on her career, now reacts to the much talked about report and the possible implications it can have on women in cinema. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, she says, “Whenever focus is drawn to the malpractices and prejudices against women in any industry, it definitely makes people across industries take note and retrospect.”
The Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba and Manmarziyaan writer further adds, “Kudos to the Hema Committee Report for putting the spotlight on the plight and malpractices that women have been subjected to! Only when the focus and the spotlight will be directed to these issues, will the change begin to improve the work environment and professional spaces for women across industries.”
Meanwhile, Parvathy Thiruvothu lashed out at the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) committee for their decision of collective resignation during her conversation with Barkha Dutt on her YouTube channel. Parvathy, who is also the founding member of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), recently questioned AMMA’s move and called them cowards. Even though she didn’t name Mohanlal, she criticised the decision and argued that it was an attempt to avoid accountability.
Yesterday (August 29), an FIR was filed against actor-turned-politician Mukesh and actors Jayasurya and Edavela Babu following a complaint by actor Minu Muneer. The FIR against Jayasurya has reportedly been registered under Section 354 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to intent to outrage a woman’s modesty. A group of 100 women writers and activists have released a joint statement demanding Mukesh’s resignation on ‘moral grounds’.
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