Many shocking revelations in Hema Committee report.
Questions have often been raised on the film industry regarding nepotism, casting couch and allegations of sexual exploitation of women. Regarding the entry and work of female artists in the film industry, it is often said that male actors, producers and directors try to control them. Female artists do get work in the industry, but with different conditions. After the MeToo movement in 2017-18, many female artists from India and abroad started a fight against sexual exploitation in the industry. Now after the report of the Hema Committee, there is a stir in the entire film industry. These days the report of the Hema Committee is being discussed everywhere, after the revelations in which many big names of South Cinema have come under threat. So let us tell you in this article what is the report of the Hema Committee and why it is being discussed.
What is the report of Hema Committee?
The film industry has always been accused of making immoral demands from women in exchange for work in the industry. Physical favors are demanded from them and they are tortured physically and mentally. The ‘Hema Committee Report’ was brought keeping in mind the safety of female Malayalam film actors. A 3-member committee headed by retired Justice Hema was formed in 2019 to research every point related to women’s safety in the industry regarding immoral demands made from female actors.
Why did the Hema Committee report have to be released?
The primary function of the committee was to investigate complaints of sexual abuse of women in the Malayalam film industry and propose measures to prevent future incidents. The committee studied the issues faced by women artists in the Malayalam film industry and provided information on important details related to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. This is basically the work of the Hema Committee report. Till now the Hema Committee report was not made public by the Kerala government, but due to the RTI Act 2005, on August 19, the Kerala government had to release this 233-page report in the public domain after four and a half years.
Shocking revelations in the report
This report on the status of women in Malayalam cinema has made many shocking revelations. The report has revealed at least 17 types of exploitation that women in the Malayalam industry have to go through. It mentions various types of exploitation such as lack of facilities like ladies’ toilets, changing rooms, salary discrimination and demand for sex in exchange for work.
How the committee was formed
The Hema Committee was formed after a case on 14 February 2017. On 14 February 2017, a famous Malayalam film actress was going to Kochi in her car. Then she was kidnapped and raped in her own car. The police arrested 6 accused in this case. After which, keeping in mind the safety of the female artists of the Malayalam cinema industry, a three-member committee headed by retired Justice Hema of Kerala High Court was formed in July.
Why is this discussion happening?
In fact, many shocking revelations have been made in the Hema Committee report that came out recently. The report contains statements of many female artists of Malayalam cinema, who admitted that they had to compromise with the influential actors, directors and producers of the industry to get roles in films. This report has revealed the wrong attitude of the male producers and directors of Malayalam cinema towards women. The report shows that in the Malayalam film industry, wrong favors are sought from women and they are pressured to have physical relations. When women agree to this, the producers and directors also give them code names.
Why was there a delay in releasing the report
There was a lot of criticism about the release of the Hema Committee report after nearly 5 years. Many people called it shameful and shocking and expressed their displeasure over the fact that efforts were made to hide the truth from them for 5 years. However, the Kerala government argues that this information was extremely sensitive. This sensitive information was not made public till now due to privacy concerns of the case. Not only this, Justice Hema herself had written a letter to the Kerala government and asked the government not to bring this sensitive report in the public domain.
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