More women professionals working in the Malayalam film industry came out on August 26 with allegations of sexual harassment and assault by their male counterparts in the aftermath of the release of a redacted version of the Justice K. Hema Committee report last week. Eight top names, including actor and MLA M. Mukesh, faced allegations from junior actors and technicians. Actress Minu Muneer alleged that a 16-year-old girl and her mother were sexually assaulted for two weeks on the sets of One Way Ticket, a 2008 film directed by Bipin Prabhakar.
With M. Mukesh in the net, the drama got political too. Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress members marched to the residence of M. Mukesh 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 inclusion in a committee of a cinema conclave planned by the Kerala government.
The Ernakulam police filed an FIR against director-actor Ranjith on a complaint by a Bengali film actress who alleged that he had sexually misbehaved with her in 2009. Among the others who faced such complaints are directors Sreekumar Menon, Sajin Babu and Thulasidas, and actors Baburaj, Jayasurya, Shine Tom Chacko, Idavela Babu and Maniyanpillai Raju.
Meanwhile, actor Siddique has filed a counter-complaint with the Kerala police chief over a junior actress’ claim that he had sexually assaulted her about eight years ago. Siddique claimed that the allegations were driven by an “agenda”. In his complaint, Siddique said, the woman had initially alleged use of offensive words but was now claiming sexual assault. He accused the lady of changing her allegations after the release of the Hema Committee report, describing her move as a publicity stunt. He, nevertheless, resigned as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists on August 25.