The revelations from the Hema Committee report have despatched shockwaves by means of the Malayalam movie trade, sparking conversations that echo far past Kerala. The report, submitted in December 2019 following Girls in Cinema Collective’s (WCC) petition in response to the 2017 actress assault case, unveiled deep-rooted problems with sexual harassment and abuse throughout the trade, catalysing authorized actions and police complaints which have shaken the trade’s foundations. Because the motion continues to push to make broader systemic modifications to guard survivors, one query looms giant: Ought to Bollywood and the Hindi TV trade think about forming an identical committee and implementing stricter legal guidelines to deal with these pervasive points?
Bollywood’s #MeToo Second: A Missed Alternative for Lasting Change
In 2018, Bollywood skilled its personal #MeToo wave when actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment, and writer-producer Vinta Nanda got here ahead with allegations in opposition to Alok Nath. Nevertheless, regardless of the preliminary surge of braveness and confessions, the motion regularly misplaced momentum. Lots of the males accused of misconduct proceed to work with impunity, their careers seemingly unaffected by the allegations. Vinta Nanda displays on this missed alternative for lasting change, telling us, “I want it hadn’t taken one other 5 years for the motion to choose up from the place it left off. The Hema Committee Report may have been instrumental in persevering with the momentum and bringing concerning the modifications which were wanted for many years. However sadly, the report was suppressed.”
The silence that after once more envelops Bollywood on this challenge is deafening. Most movie actors, producers, administrators and TV stars we reached out to declined to remark. Nevertheless, a couple of courageous voices spoke out, acknowledging the pressing want for troublesome conversations and systemic modifications.
Voices of Resistance: Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, Gulshan Devaiah, Guneet Monga, Nakuul Mehta and Tannishtha Chatterjee
TV actor Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, finest identified for her position in Hindi sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, shared her personal harrowing experiences with the trade’s flawed techniques. After accusing her present’s producer Asit Kumar Modi of sexual harassment, she confronted extreme backlash, together with a lack of work alternatives and monetary stability. “For the final 12 months and a half, I’ve been sitting at house… no earnings, no job, simply sitting at house,” she advised us.
“I’d been to the police station greater than 70 instances. I cried, I screamed, I shouted at them immediately. I advised them to their faces that they need to be ashamed of themselves for taking bribes and simply sitting there. I stated, ‘You’re not submitting my FIR, you’re not submitting my Panchnama.’ I met the ACP, the DCP, the Joint Commissioner of Police—all over the place. I met them 2-3 instances, and every time, I used to be made to take a seat for 5-6 hours,” Jennifer recounted, describing her emotional, monetary and psychological turmoil.
Jennifer advocates for the institution of a devoted committee to deal with these points. “When it occurred to me, I didn’t even know whether or not we had an Inside Complaints Committee (ICC). There was no info. Establishing a committee isn’t just essential, it’s completely vital. It should occur.”
Gulshan Devaiah, a Hindi movie actor identified for his outspoken views, stresses the significance of participating in these “uncomfortable conversations.” He acknowledges the challenges of addressing such delicate subjects however insists that change can solely come by means of dialogue and mutual help. “We have to unite and never assume, ‘Oh, that is occurring within the Malayalam trade’ or ‘That is occurring in another trade,’…There must be a unified strategy, with rules or vital amendments utilized uniformly throughout all industries, bringing them below one umbrella,” he advised us.
He additional stated the federal government can implement all types of guidelines, kind committees and contain high consultants, however actual change additionally requires a societal shift. “Now we have to take it upon ourselves, and we’ll solely give you the chance to take action if we’re prepared to speak about it. We could also be unsuitable, many instances I’m scared to debate this stuff. I’m scared to debate them as a result of I fear that I’d say one thing that offends somebody. I fear that I’d offend a feminine pal of mine, and she or he’ll surprise how I may say such a factor. However regardless of these fears, now we have to have this dialog.”
Guneet Monga, an Oscar-winning movie producer, emphasised the necessity for collective motion in driving change. She acknowledged, “It’s essential to lift our voices and do it properly. Change doesn’t occur with one individual screaming on the high of their lungs or one individual screaming about atrocities. It happens when a bunch advocates for coverage modifications, ensures security and sanitary amenities on movie units and establishes correct POSH committees.”
Tannishtha Chatterjee, an actor who has navigated each Bollywood and worldwide cinema, stated, “Lots of people within the Hindi movie trade are supporting the motion within the Malayalam movie trade. But it surely’s very troublesome to speak about what penalties it could have right here.” Reflecting on her early experiences within the trade, she admitted that she needed to distance herself from among the largest names as a result of their inappropriate behaviour.
“I advised myself that I’ll solely work with casting administrators who’re men and women who’re very skilled. I began getting requires auditions for worldwide movies the place it was actually about high quality of working and whether or not you go well with the half or not. However our trade has varied ranges of corruption,” she added.
For Nakuul Mehta, a outstanding Hindi TV actor, the struggles confronted by ladies within the Malayalam trade resonate deeply. “What these ladies are doing within the Malayalam trade have to be recognised by all of us, women and men! I’m shook by studying up on their challenges and the struggles,” he shared with us. “Let’s try to learn, be taught, bear in mind, have dialogues, perceive and determine methods by which we may supply any help to those revolutions. Let not their valiant efforts be misplaced to humankind.”
From Kerala to Bollywood: The Name for Impartial Committee to Fight Sexual Harassment
In the meantime, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President of the All Indian Cine Employees Affiliation (AICWA), has referred to as for the formation of an impartial, unbiased committee to deal with sexual harassment throughout the trade.
Gupta argued that the present system, which regularly includes trade insiders, is essentially flawed. He proposed that such committees ought to include retired military officers, IPS officers, and judges. “People from the trade won’t ever permit a case to obtain the eye it deserves,” he argued, suggesting that an impartial physique can be more practical in making certain justice for victims. Gupta additionally referred to as for the institution of a centralised committee below the purview of the central authorities to deal with circumstances throughout all movie industries in India, offering a constant and dependable useful resource for victims.
“Moreover, the federal government ought to present toll-free numbers that may be displayed in all movie and TV units. In case such an incident happens, the criticism could be instantly reported to this committee,” Gupta added.
The conversations spurred by the Hema Committee report could have originated in Kerala, however they’re reverberating throughout the complete Indian leisure trade. As Bollywood watches the unfolding developments within the Malayalam trade, the query stays: Will it take related steps to make sure the protection and dignity of its ladies? The few voices which have spoken out are a testomony to the necessity for change, however and not using a concerted effort, the established order could stay unchallenged. The time for uncomfortable conversations is now, and the trade should resolve whether or not it’s going to hear or proceed to stay silent.
(With inputs from Titas Chowdhury)
