A long-awaited report by a three-member committee that studied gender justice and misogyny in the Malayalam film industry has exposed the realities of casting couch, sexual harassment, unequal wages, male chauvinism and the presence of criminals in the power group that controls the industry.

The state government on Monday released the Hema Committee Report shortly after Kerala High Court rejected actor Ranjini’s plea to stay its release. Its release followed years of legal hurdles.

The 233-page report about the Malayalam industry, otherwise feted for making critically acclaimed movies, came as a huge relief for sections of women professionals who have been seeking its release for over three years.

“Do not trust what you see, even salt can look like sugar,” begins the report that went into great detail about the condition of women professionals in the industry. It “exposed” the casting couch in the Malayalam industry without naming anyone.

The Hema Committee headed by retired high court judge K. Hema and also comprising veteran actor Sharada and retired civil servant K.B. Valsala Kumari was constituted by the state government in 2019 in the wake of rising demands for gender justice and women’s safety in the industry following the kidnap and sexual assault of a leading actress in a moving car in 2017.

The report, based on interviews and personal accounts of several industry professionals, including actors, confirms long-held allegations about the existence of casting couch in the industry.

“The offer to act or for doing any other job in cinema comes to a woman coupled with demand for sexual favours. As I already mentioned, the woman would be asked to adjust and compromise, thereby she is asked to surrender to sexual demands.

“It is stated by various witnesses that demands for sex are not there for women who seek other jobs. Sex is not a precondition to obtain any other job for a woman. Casting couch makes jobs in the film industry different from other jobs,” the report said.

It recounted horror stories from women professionals, including actors, who are approached for sexual favours or even sexual harassment in the shoot sets of hotels where they are accommodated. But none, according to the report, dares to complain for fear of retribution or even being sidelined in the industry.

“A very senior artist said that women do not bother to speak out about the sexual harassment they undergo. This is because they are
afraid of the bad name and experiences they are likely to endure in the future,” the
report said.

Women professionals complained to the committee about unequal wages, arbitrary deductions from salaries, poor working conditions and lack of washrooms in certain locations.

Expressing her shock, Kerala Women’s Commission chairperson P. Sathidevi told reporters: “The report says a woman is subject to conditions of sexual favours in exchange for a chance to act in a film. The Kerala society needs to discuss this degenerated culture in the film industry.”

“Criminals rule the roost in the cinema industry which in itself is a male-dominated one,” she said, calling for stern action by all agencies.

The Women in Cinema Collective, which took shape after the kidnap of the actress, welcomed the report. “Our work starts now. We at the WICC are waiting to see the whole report,” said its member and veteran actor Revathi.