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The Malayalam film industry is currently facing a wave of allegations of sexual harassment and assault, with actor Minu Muneer adding her voice to the chorus of accusations. Muneer, in a detailed Facebook post, alleged that she experienced physical and verbal abuse from several prominent actors and technicians during her time working on a project in 2013. Among those named were actor and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA M Mukesh, representing the Kollam seat in the Kerala Assembly, as well as actors Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, and Jayasurya. Muneer also implicated advocate Chandrasekharan and production controllers Noble and Vichu in her post.
Muneer's accusations come in the wake of a series of high-profile resignations from key positions within the industry. Senior Malayalam actor Siddique stepped down as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) after being accused of rape by an actress. Shortly after, director Ranjith resigned as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy following allegations of sexual harassment from actor Sreelekha Mitra. These events were further fuelled by the public release of the Justice Hema committee report, which detailed the pervasive issue of sexual harassment and gender inequality within the Malayalam film industry.
The Justice Hema committee report, released on August 19, identified 17 key problems faced by women in the industry, including demands for sex, sexual harassment and abuse, and assault in vehicles and accommodations. The report highlighted the risk of “torture” faced by women who express resistance to these demands and pointed out the violation of human rights through the lack of basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms. The report also condemned the practice of “banning” women from the industry as a means to silence dissent against workplace biases. The report also revealed instances of verbal contracts that favored employers and non-payment of agreed-upon wages.
Muneer's allegations, alongside the existing accusations and the damning findings of the Justice Hema report, paint a grim picture of the Malayalam film industry. The industry is facing a reckoning, and the public response to these accusations will be crucial in determining the future direction of the industry and its commitment to addressing these deeply rooted issues. Muneer's bravery in coming forward is likely to encourage more women to speak out against abuse and demand systemic change. It remains to be seen whether the industry will rise to the challenge and implement meaningful reforms to ensure a safer and more equitable environment for everyone involved.
Source: Kerala: Actor accuses Malayalam film industry members of sexual misconduct, physical assault