The Hema Committee Report has opened up a can of worms that would take a very long time to settle down. While every sane rational-thinking human being is all for a redressal of any wrongdoing done to any woman, what about the men?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police has recorded the statement of the woman who accused actor Nivin Pauly of rape. In her statement, the woman claimed that her previous allegations were made while she was half-asleep and expressed concerns that the case is being sabotaged by unknown persons.
The woman initially alleged that she was raped by Nivin Pauly and six others in Dubai on December 14 and 15, and that she returned to Kerala on December 16. However, evidence suggesting that Nivin was in Kerala during the alleged dates has raised doubts about the claims. Filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan and others also confirmed that Nivin was in Kerala during that time. The woman further mentioned that she was called before the SIT for an inquiry regarding her finances.
The complaint against Nivin was filed by a young woman from Oonnukal, Ernakulam, who claimed she was sexually harassed after being promised an acting opportunity. The Oonnukal Police registered a case, naming Pauly as the sixth accused along with five others.
In response to the allegations, Nivin Pauly held a press conference where he firmly denied the claims and reiterated his commitment to legal action. He emphasized his determination to clear his name and uncover any potential conspiracy behind the accusations, asserting that the charges against him are false. Pauly stated that he would continue with legal proceedings to prove his innocence and bring the truth to light.
He has since lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Minister, Culture Minister, Director General of Police (DGP), and the SIT, demanding a thorough investigation into the accusations against him. Pauly’s complaint includes evidence to refute the allegations, such as a
copy of his passport , which shows that he was in Kerala for a movie shoot during the time of the alleged incident and had not traveled abroad.
The Malayali actor Nivin Pauly is now the face of the other side of the MeToo coin. Someone somewhere decided to lump him with a bunch of other men in her crime report, accusing Nivin, a shy, gentle, charming, and infinitely innocuous actor of, hold your breath, raping her! Nivin didn’t know what hit him… Or maybe he did. Maybe the accused felt consciously or unconsciously snubbed by the actor? Actors from Malayalam cinema have been talking in hushed tones about revenge litigation ever since Hema-ji did her duty.
Now, Nivin has not only provided proof that he was not in Dubai on the date the lady accused him of the misdeed. His co-star Parvathy Krishna and director Vineeth Sreenivasan have confirmed Nivin was filming Varshangalkku Shesham in Kochi during the alleged assault timeline.This writer spoke to a co-actor of Nivin who spoke up on condition of anonymity. “When I heard of Nivin being accused, I wanted to laugh. Nivin and rape? He is the gentlest, most chivalrous, and gender-sensitive actor in the (Malayalam) industry. But of course, I can’t be allowed to say that. According to our law, a man is always guilty until proven innocent. Luckily, Nivin has documented proof as his alibi. But he should take the accuser to court and see her go to jail. I believe Anurag Kashyap was also accused. He was apparently in Sri Lanka when the incident was supposed to have happened in Mumbai.”
Actor-singer Karan Oberoi who was falsely jailed for rape, says, “There are many thousands of lives being destroyed by this legal terrorism. I want this kind of legalized terrorism to end with me. No one should be thrown into jail by any vindictive woman in the future. I hope it will make the judiciary change the laws which are, right, now heavily lopsided? I hope we look at such cases with a little more sensitivity. I hope this will start a dialogue on men as potential victims rather than being perpetually perceived as predators. What the dialogue ought to be rather than what is right now, is even more important now! The ‘Them Vs Us’ narrative is the bane of human existence. No man is always wrong and no woman is always right and vice versa. If we are true believers of feminism and women’s empowerment, then we ought to treat everyone as equals.”He adds, “There is no sense in facilitating a feeling of entitlement for being a certain gender even if that gender has been wronged for ages. The only way correction can happen is by the right balance based on truth. Believe me, that rectification of the lopsidedness will really set us free. It will restore the delicate balance between the sexes and also scrutinize the lopsided laws in India. In the name of women’s empowerment if we give absolute power to one gender then that power can and will be misused. It’s akin to giving somebody a Tommy gun to fire at will with zero accountability! Even the vast majority of women acknowledge that! Please hold your horses before passing value judgments until you know the absolute truth. It can cost someone his life! It almost cost me mine. It has taken me months and years to heal. Don’t reduce a man to statistics even if the percentage of wronged men is minuscule.Any movement, be it MeToo or MenToo shouldn’t be about optics but the ultimate truth and justice for either of the genders.”
The Malayalam film industry is reeling from a wave of sexual misconduct allegations that have surfaced in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed widespread abuse within the industry. As the scandal deepens, Kerala Police have filed their first case in connection with these allegations, naming prominent figures in the industry.
A complaint was filed against Ranjith by an aspiring male actor, who alleged that the director forced him to strip naked and sexually assaulted him in 2012. Ranjith had invited the victim to a hotel in Bangalore for an audition, where the alleged assault took place.
Director Ranjith has been caught up in the #MeToo wave that has struck Mollywood, exposing how the industry is a hotbed of sexual harassment and discrimination against women.
Ranjith had to resign from his position as the Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KCA) after Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra filed a complaint with the Kochi City Police, alleging that he sexually assaulted her during an audition.
After that, a young aspiring actor came forward, claiming Ranjith forced him to strip naked and sexually assaulted him in 2012. The victim, Sajeer, has now spoken to Republic, revealing details of what went down at the time he was abused by Ranjith.
Sajeer recalled that when his first meeting with Ranjith went down, Mammootty was with him. “The shooting location was a big home. The production controller came to me and said that Ranjith was sitting inside (the set) in the hall. He asked me about my personal life. I was very happy that a director who is a legend in the Malayalam film industry was inquiring about me. He told me that he was busy at the time but wrote down his number on a tissue and gave me. He asked me to text him. I returned home and told my friends about it. I was 20-21 years of age at the time. I don’t know how he felt attraction towards me. But he told me that somehow,” Sajeer told us.
The victim shared that Ranjith invited him to Bengaluru after their first meet. “I texted him after two days. He asked me to come to Bengaluru and said that the movie shoot was over. I informed my parents and went there. He was staying at the Taj Hotel near the airport. He informed me about a way through which I could enter the hotel. I reached his room. He was drinking and offered it to me. But, I’d never had a drink before, but I had a glass of vodka,” he added.
Detailing what followed, Sajeer shared, “He asked me to remove my clothes saying ‘I want to see your structure’. I removed my clothes. I was standing in front of a mirror. He said you are looking very beautiful and will look more beautiful on screen. This buttering gave me strength and confidence. It never happened with me. After that he tried to do something with my body.”
‘He took my pictures and sent them to another actress’ Sajeer continued, “He took some pictures of my naked body. I felt something strange. He said he wanted to see me again. He said he wanted to share my pictures with a senior and well-known actress and director in the Kerala film industry. He said ‘Your body and face are similar to a girl and I want to show your pictures to an actress.’ I had no friends, I was drunk and I asked why are you taking my pictures. This worried me.”
The investigation team recorded the statement of the complainant on Friday. Sajeer said he fostered the dream of becoming an actor but was exploited. “At the age of 20, I have no idea about the film industry. He (Ranjith) gave me his number. I did not know anything about what was happening to me. On the next morning of the day I met him, he (Ranjith) asked me how much money I needed and told me he had to go somewhere. I had high hopes of getting a role. It made me sad when he offered me money. I asked him ‘ You gave me hopes and now just offering me money’. But he abused me on the pretext of offering me a movie but never responded.”
“After that day, there was no response. One message came which read ‘Don’t message me now’. I have given my statements to the SIT about what happened to me. It was my dream to act in a movie. I was unlucky. I am a victim. These people used their dignity and reputation in a bad way.,” Sajeer concluded, on the note that he wants the culprits to be punished.
In addition to Ranjith, several other prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry have been accused of sexual misconduct. Actor Minu Muneer publicly named actors M. Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Edavela Babu, accusing them of various forms of harassment. Muneer detailed her experiences during the filming of Calender (2009) and Nadakame Ulakam (2011), where she alleged that male colleagues attempted to assault her in her hotel room and made inappropriate advances.
“I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai because the abuse became unbearable,” Muneer said. “I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma I endured.”
Meanwhile, Baburaj, the joint general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), has also been accused of sexual assault by a young woman actor. The woman alleged that Baburaj lured her to his house under the pretext of discussing a film role, only to assault her once she was alone. Baburaj has denied the allegations, claiming they are part of a conspiracy to prevent him from becoming the general secretary of AMMA.
Adding to the growing list of accusations, actor Geetha Vijayan came forward with claims that director Thulasidas behaved inappropriately with her during the shoot of his film Chanchattam in 1991. “He has misbehaved with other women as well,” Vijayan said.
The mounting allegations have put immense pressure on the Malayalam film industry, with calls for a thorough investigation growing louder. As the scandal continues to unfold, the Kerala government has established a Special Investigation Team to probe the various allegations. The involvement of high-profile figures, including Mukesh, who is a two-time CPI(M) MLA, has further intensified the controversy. Opposition parties have accused the CPI(M)-led government of protecting the accused, while prominent figures in the industry, including actor Prithviraj, have called for comprehensive investigations and corrective actions by AMMA.
Late-night knocks on the door and demands sexual favors in exchange for work, lack of basic facilities like women’s toilets and changing rooms, withholding of remuneration, and the threat of bans: The ugly reality of the Malayalam film industry stands revealed in the Justice Hema Committee report, a redacted version of which was made public on August 19, four years after it was submitted to the Kerala government. Following the abduction and sexual assault of an actor in February 2017, which led to widespread outrage, the Committee was set up to investigate the problems faced by women working in the state’s film industry. The report — the first of its kind in India — reveals an industry tightly controlled by a powerful few, where a culture of silence has allowed misogyny to run rampant.
The public release of the report marks the end of one important task — of putting on record the deplorable conditions under which women work in the Malayalam film industry. It signals the start of another, more arduous, endeavor. Steps must now be taken for redressal and reform. Some tentative steps have already been taken. In 2022, for example, in response to a petition by the Women in Cinema Collective, the Kerala High Court ruled that film production units were required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee as mandated by the POSH Act. The Report recommends the enactment of a statute that addresses the specific problems encountered by women in the film industry, as well as the constitution of a tribunal to look into their complaints. But where the problem stems from a deeply entrenched and pervasive culture of sexism and where an outsized power asymmetry determines who is heard and who is silenced, court rulings and new statutes would have little impact unless there is a larger reckoning. An industry that is lauded for the progressive content of its films, must now ask how it can shed regressive attitudes and commit to creating a safe working environment for all.
– Exponews Editor
