Thiruvananthapuram/Mumbai. The Malayalam film industry, which is already facing shocking revelations of harassment of women in the Justice Hema Committee report, was further shaken on Monday when other female actors also came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. Actress Meenu Munir, who has appeared in a few films, accused actor-turned-MLA M. Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyampilla Raju and Idavela Babu of sexual harassment. At the same time, another famous actress also accused a famous film producer of misbehaving with her many years ago. The film producer has denied the allegations.
In a post on Facebook, Meenu Muneer alleged, “I am willing to give a statement (to the police) about the incidents of physical and verbal abuse done to me by Mukesh, Maniyampilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Jayasurya, Chandrasekaran, production assistant Noble and Vichu in the Malayalam film industry.” She claimed, “In the year 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these persons while working on a film.” None of the actors except Maniyampilla Raju have responded to Muneer’s allegations.
Also today, a junior artist accused actor Baburaj of sexual harassment. Baburaj, an official of the Malayalam Movie Artists Association (AMMA), dismissed the allegations and suspected that vested interests in the film industry were behind it. He claimed that the allegations were an attempt to prevent him from becoming the general secretary of AMMA.
Hours after the actress levelled the allegations against Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Mukesh, Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress workers took out separate marches towards the actor’s residence in Kollam, demanding a case be registered against him and his resignation.
However, the Kollam MLA is yet to react to these allegations. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly and Congress leader V.D. Satheesan on Monday alleged that the Left government in the state is trying to protect those who sexually harass women in the Malayalam film industry and hence is not taking initiative to investigate the Justice Hema Committee report.
Reacting to the revelations against Mukesh, Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said that any allegation against any person should be investigated on a factual basis. Meanwhile, actor Maniyampilla Raju has demanded an investigation into the allegations being made in the Malayalam film industry. He told reporters that there will be many more revelations and many interests will be involved behind them.
Raju said, “Some people will try to take advantage of the situation. There will be both innocent and guilty among the accused. Therefore a detailed investigation is necessary.” A day earlier, after allegations of sexual harassment were made, filmmaker Ranjit resigned from the post of President of Kerala Chalachitra Academy and actor Siddique resigned from the post of General Secretary of ‘Association of Malayalam Movie Artists’ (AMMA).
Amid growing pressure on the government to take action against those guilty of sexual harassment in the film industry, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday held a high-level meeting with senior police officials and announced the formation of a seven-member special force to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of female artists. The report of the Justice Hema Committee, constituted by the Kerala government after the attack on an actress in 2017, has revealed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry, following which action has been demanded against the culprits.
Actress Parvati on gender discrimination, said there is a ‘worm’ in every film industry
Malayalam actress Parvathy Thiruvothu on Monday said all film industries are plagued by the same “bug” and people in the industry need to clean it up. The findings of the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual abuse in Malayalam cinema have created an uproar and many are raising their voices.
Parvathy, who is currently promoting her Tamil film ‘Thangalan’, said, “When we speak for ourselves, we stand for everyone else. We need allies.” Following the efforts of the WCC, the Kerala government had constituted the Justice Hema Committee.
Parvathy said at a press conference, which also included representatives of ‘PTI-Bhasha’, “There is a ‘bug’ in all industries and we have to clean it ourselves … But I believe that things are changing now. When we speak for ourselves, we stand for everyone else. We need allies.” The detailed report of the Justice Hema Committee released on August 19 mentions the nexus of power and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
Parvati has worked with actor Irrfan Khan in her first Hindi film ‘Kaariv Kaariv Single’ in the year 2017. Comparing her new film ‘Thangalan’ co-star Vikram with Irrfan, Parvati said that there are many similarities between the two.
Parvati described both the actors as generous people.