The release of the Hema Committee report has exposed stark realities of widespread harassment and sexual abuse faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The report has sent shockwaves across the Kerala film industry and the state’s political circles. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan formed a Special Investigation Team to inquire into the allegations.

After the revelations of the Hema Committee report the actress who has spoken out the most is probably Minu Muneer. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Muneer had accused several well-known actors, including MLA Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu and Jayasurya of physically and verbally abusing her during a 2013 project.

In a conversation with The Telegraph Online, Muneer, 51, made a few more shocking revelations about the harassment she said she endured during her career.

Role of MLA Mukesh

Muneer accused Mukesh, actor turned MLA of the CPM from Kollam, of being the "main villain" in her ordeal.

“When I applied for AMMA [Association of Malayalam Movie Artists] membership without his knowledge, he called me and asked me ‘How dare you apply in the association without my knowledge? What do you think about me? You will not share the bed with anyone, na? Do one thing: keep candle wax in your private parts and don’t share it with anyone’. He insulted me in this way leaving me in shock. He is the big dada of the film industry,” Muneer told The Telegraph Online.

The Congress has sought the resignation of Mukesh and held protest marches in the state.

The Telegraph Online called MLA Mukesh's mobile number but he did not respond.

“I had a bitter experience and then I left my native place Kerala, that time (2008-2012) there were rumours that Minu is leaving the industry because she is unable to cooperate with ‘adjustment’,” the actress told The Telegraph Online.

“That time no one questioned me, no one asked me as to what was the abuse, nothing. I automatically understood that I will never get justice. During those days the media was also not that active and the police were influenced.”

Facebook/MinuMuneer

Membership in AMMA

Muneer said: “When I approached for a membership in AMMA, I was told ‘you have to share your bed for that’. My response was ‘I can’t do all that, because how can I?’”

She added that the individuals who misbehaved with her were executive committee members of AMMA.

Muneer’s revelations also include incidents involving a producer and an advocate who she claims were complicit in harassing her.

“In my social media post, I mentioned four actors, two production controllers, and one advocate. They harassed me and mentally tortured me. The advocate was actually involved in pimp work. He introduced me to a producer from Dubai and then disappeared from there. The producer misunderstood me and tried to abuse me. I said no and asked him not to touch me. The producer asked me to have liquor and was ready to order food for me. Later, when I explained the situation to him, he apologised to me. The real culprit here was the advocate,” Muneer told The Telegraph Online.

She also named the advocate, but The Telegraph Online is withholding his name because we could not get his contact details to try and reach him for his reaction.

TTO Graphics

Struggles and sacrifices for her children

Muneer said she had to prioritise her children's well-being over her career and safeguard them from the impact of the abuse in her life.

“I was not even getting paid properly, but I was never worried about that, but the behaviour of these people hurt me badly,” she told The Telegraph Online.

“I had two school-going children back in those years. I spoke about it that time but was never questioned back and hence I moved to Chennai as I thought it may affect my kids. Now they are grown up, they are mature enough to understand what is real. Now they are on my side” she added.

After spending years in Chennai, Muneer recently decided to return to her native Kerala.

“I thought why simply pay rent in Chennai when I can stay in my own native place,” she explained.

With her daughter now in London and her son having completed his degree, Muneer now wants to confront her past and share her story.