On 27th August, the entire governing body of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), including the president of the association, actor Mohanlal resigned from their positions. The decision came after the Hema Committee report was made public. Earlier, actor Siddique resigned from his position at AMMA in the wake of sexual assault allegations that resurfaced against him.
64-year-old Mohanlal cited moral responsibility as allegations of sexual abuse were levelled against some members of the governing body of AMMA. The Hema Committee report was made public on 19th August. Several actors came forward narrating their ordeal of sexual harassment faced at the hands of filmmakers, actors and technicians.
The statement from the association read, “We are hopeful that AMMA will have a new leadership capable of renewing and strengthening the association. Thanks to everyone for criticising and correcting.” Furthermore, the association said that a general body meeting will be called within two months to select a new governing body.
The governing body that dissolved included Actors Jagadish, Jayan Cherthala, Baburaj, Kalabhavan Shajon, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Joy Mathew, Suresh Krishna, Ananya, Vinu Mohan, Tovino Thomas, Sarayu, Ansiba, Jomol and Tini Tom. AMMA was under fire for maintaining silence over the allegations and the Hema Committee report.
The report exposed how several female actors faced sexual harassment, casting couch practices, pay disparities, exploitation and lobbying in the Malayalam film industry. Following the report, several women came forward levelling allegations against several senior actors and filmmakers.
Filmmakers Ranjith, Thulasidas, actors Jayasurya, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Edavela Babu and Suraj Venjaramoodu have been named by female actors as abusers.
Complete statement by AMMA
The statement issued by AMMA in Malayalam read, “Following the release of the Hema Committee report and in the backdrop of sexual allegations faced by some members of the executive committee of the ‘AMMA’ organization, the current executive committee of ‘AMMA’ has decided to resign, considering its moral responsibility. A general meeting will be convened within two months to elect a new executive committee. The current committee will continue as a temporary arrangement to ensure the smooth disbursement of financial assistance provided by ‘AMMA’ on the first of the month and healthcare aid to its esteemed members, and to coordinate office functions until the general meeting. We hope that a new leadership will emerge to renew and strengthen ‘AMMA’. Thank you to everyone for your criticisms and corrections.”
Actor Siddique resigned from AMMA
On 24th August, Malayalam actor Siddique resigned from the post of General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). He resigned over allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by a female actor. The resignation has been submitted to Mohanlal, president of AMMA.
In a statement, Siddique said, “Yes. I have tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there were allegations against me, I have decided not to continue in the post and resigned.” The allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled in 2019 by a Malayalam actor. The issue has sparked again following the Justice Hema Committee’s report highlighted widespread cases of sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.
Several AMMA members welcomed Siddique decision to give their resignation. Vice President of AMMA Jayan Cherthala said it was not appropriate for him to continue in the position as such serious allegations have cropped up against him once again. Actor Anoop Chandran said he sent an email to Mohanlal in the morning seeking Siddique’s resignation. “The continuation of a person, facing serious allegations, in the post is actually an insult to the entire organisation. So I said in the email that if Siddique was not ready to step down on his own, the executive committee should be prepared to oust him,” he told media.
Justice Hema Report exposed challenging circumstances faced by women in Malayalam film industry
On 20th August, the Kerala government came under heavy criticism for or holding up the release of the Hema committee report, featuring startling information about how women are treated in the Malayalam film industry. The report was made official on 18th August.
This study, which bears the name of the committee’s chair, Justice K. Hema (Retd.), is an important document that highlights the challenging circumstances that women in the film industry face. The committee was established in response to the 2017 sexual assault of a well-known actress, which caused public indignation and prompted calls for structural reform in the business.
The study emphasized the serious obstacles that women encounter in the Malayalam film business, such as pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination based on gender, and an unfriendly workplace. The most startling discovery was that women who experience sexual harassment or assault frequently choose not to speak up for fear of being branded as “troublemakers” or being shunned by the business.
Testimonies from other women in the industry, who detailed their terrifying experiences, are included in the report. A scenario that was particularly unsettling featured an actress who was made to rehearse a scene in which she was hugged by an actor who had previously molested her. The actress suffered severe physical and psychological damage from having to endure 17 takes. Her performance was critiqued by the producer, who failed to recognize or comprehend the emotional agony she was experiencing.
The study emphasized how few basic amenities, like women’s restrooms and changing areas on movie sets, are available to women in the business. The substantial salary gap that exists in the Malayalam cinema industry between male and female actors was also highlighted by the survey.
The committee discovered that the sector frequently rejects women who dare to speak out against harassment or discrimination. They are called “problem-makers,” which negatively impacts their chances of getting a job and makes them feel alone in the workplace. The industry’s culture of backlash against female employees who speak for themselves is a contributing factor to the ongoing harassment and abuse of these workers.