The torrent of disclosures concerning sexual assault and harassment in the Malayalam film industry, which began last week with the release of a redacted version of the Justice K Hema Committee report, continued Monday, with more women professionals speaking out about abuse by their male counterparts. As many as eight Mollywood heavyweights, including actor and CPM lawmaker M Mukesh, have faced claims from new actors and technicians.
Ernakulam police filed a FIR against filmmaker Ranjith after receiving a complaint from a Bengali actor alleging sexual assault against him dating back to 2009.
Ranjith had stepped down as chairman of state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy. The case has been filed as a non-bailable offence.
Others who faced allegations included Baburaj, joint secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, directors Sreekumar Menon and Thulasidas, and actors Jayasurya, Shine Tom Chacko, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpillai Raju.
Actor Minu Muneer joined the chorus of claims, revealing that a 16-year-old girl and her mother were sexually assaulted for two weeks on the sets of a 2008 movie directed by Bipin Prabhakar. It starred Prithviraj Sukumaran and Bhama in lead roles and Mammootty in a cameo role.
Much of the spotlight was on Mukesh. The accusations against the two-time CPM MLA put the Left govt under pressure. Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress took out marches to his residence in Kollam, demanding a case against him and his resignation. Some others, like writer Sara Joseph and Chalachitra Academy vice-chairman Premkumar, objected to Mukesh’s reported inclusion in a committee of a cinema conclave planned by govt.
Mukesh has not responded to the charges. An actor who appeared in few movies levelled the allegations in a Facebook post against Mukesh, Jayasoorya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu and a few others. “In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai. I am now seeking justice and accountability,” the actor wrote.
Later, sharing details of her ordeal with the media, she said Mukesh and Jayasurya tried to sexually assault her on the sets of movies while AMMA former general secretary Idavela Babu misbehaved with her at his flat, where she went to complete formalities for association membership. Maniyan Pillai Raju misbehaved with her while travelling in a car, she said.
A junior artist said Baburaj & director Sreekumar Menon sexually assaulted her at a house in Aluva and a hotel in Ernakulam, respectively. She also alleged that Shine Tom Chacko asked some people to arrange a meeting with her for a role in a movie featuring him. A well-known actor in the 1990s, meanwhile, alleged that director Thulasidas misbehaved with her over the phone and knocked on her door at a film’s set in 1991. The filmmaker has denied the charges.
Responding to the claims, Raju demanded detailed investigations. Baburaj backed the calls for a probe while terming the allegations part of an attempt by vested interests to prevent him from becoming AMMA general secretary, replacing actor Siddique who resigned Sunday amid similar charges.
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Source: TOI
