Mollywood me Kya Chal Raha Hai?
New Delhi: Malayalam film industry mein harassment aur sexual abuse ke allegations ke kaaran kaafi turbulence ho raha hai, khaas kar women professionals ke against. Ye issue jo kai saalon se chupchaap chal raha tha, ab Hema Committee ke explosive findings ke baad puri tarah se saamne aa gaya hai.
Ye 290-page ka report, jo Kerala government ne commission kiya tha aur jise retired Justice K Hema ne head kiya, usme industry ke andar systemic harassment, abuse, aur ek “criminal nexus” ka khulasa kiya gaya hai. Isse high-profile resignations aur public outcry ka silsila shuru ho gaya hai.
High-Profile Resignations
Hema Committee report ke public release hone ke baad Malayalam film industry mein kaafi fallout dekhne ko mila hai. Do high-profile figures, director Ranjith Balakrishnan aur actor Siddique, ne apne respective positions se resign kar diya hai misconduct ke allegations ke kaaran.
Ranjith, jo ek prominent filmmaker aur Kerala Chalachitra Academy ke chairman the, unhone ek Bengali actress ke dwara unke khilaaf lagaye gaye inappropriate behavior ke accusations ke baad resign kar diya. Actress ne Ranjith par ilzaam lagaya tha ki unhone kai saal pehle ek film shoot ke dauran unke saath badtameezi ki thi. Halanki, Ranjith ne in allegations ko deny kiya hai, aur kaha hai ki wo “real victim” hain.
“Mujhe ek khaas section ke logon ne tab se target karna shuru kar diya jab se maine Academy ke Chairman ka charge liya. Mujhe society ke saamne ye sabit karna hai ki ye ilzaam jhoothe hain. Maine faisla kiya hai ki main legal action loonga aur sach saamne launga,” ye baatein Ranjith ne ek audio clip mein kahi, jo unhone ek television channel ko bheji thi, jaise ki news agency PTI ne report kiya.
“Bahut log, including media, bina sach samjhe mujhe attack kar rahe hain. Is context mein, maine apne pad se resign karne ka faisla kiya hai,” Ranjith ne aur kaha.
Actor Siddique, jo AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) ke general secretary the, unhone bhi apne pad se resign kar diya, ek actress ke dwara lagaye gaye sexual assault ke allegations ke baad. Actress ne Siddique par ilzaam lagaya ki unhone uske saath sexual abuse kiya tha jab wo sirf 21 saal ki thi, ek film discussion ke dauran.
AMMA ke kai members, including vice president Jayan Cherthala aur actor Anoop Chandran, ne Siddique ke decision ka support kiya aur kaha ki ye morally aur ethically sahi tha.
Hema Committee Report Kya Hai
Hema Committee ko Kerala government ne ek assault case ke baad constitute kiya tha, jo ek actress ke saath hua tha. Actress ne ilzaam lagaya tha ki uske saath 2017 mein ek group of men ne assault kiya tha jab wo travel kar rahi thi. Ye case tab national headlines bana jab Malayalam cinema ke bade naamon mein se ek, actor Dileep, ko accused ke taur par naam liya gaya. Dileep ko arrest kiya gaya aur teen mahine tak custody mein rakha gaya, uske baad bail mil gayi.
Committee ka mandate tha Malayalam film industry mein women ki working conditions ko investigate karna aur unki safety aur dignity ko improve karne ke liye suggestions dena.
Is report ko saamne aane mein paanch saal lag gaye, aur isme kai instances of sexual harassment, exploitation, aur gender discrimination ka zikr hai jo women ko Malayalam cinema mein face karni padti hai. Report highlight karti hai ki industry mein ek “power nexus” hai, jahan ek chhoti si group of influential men, including producers, directors, aur actors, allegedly women professionals ki kismat ko control karte hain. Jo unki demands ko pura nahi karti, unhe systematically ostracise kiya jaata hai aur industry se bahar kar diya jaata hai, report mein kaha gaya hai.
Political Fallout
Report ke release hone ke baad political parties aur public figures ke strong reactions saamne aaye hain. Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) ne ek thorough investigation ki demand ki hai, jo women IPS officers ki team ke dwara ki jaye, jabki Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) aur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ne report mein implicated logon ke against strict action ki demand ki hai.
Kerala State Women’s Commission ne bhi is issue ko uthaya hai aur film sets par grievance redressal committees banane ki recommendation di hai.
Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), jo Malayalam film industry mein women professionals ka ek group hai, unhone Hema Committee report ke release ka swagat kiya hai.
“Ye humare liye ek lambi journey rahi hai! Humne hamesha ye maana ki film industry mein sabhi mahilaon ke liye ek dignified professional space ke liye humari fight, sahi fight thi. Aaj hum apne stance mein justified mehsoos kar rahe hain. Hema Committee report ka publish hona, WCC ka ek aur kadam hai,” WCC ne ek Facebook post mein kaha.
Ranjith ke resignation ka swagat kai logon ne kiya hai, including state Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan, jinhone kaha ki Kerala mein Left government hamesha sexual harassment victims ka support karti rahi hai.
