It was a great shocker when the 2017 assault case of Actress Bhavana was reported to the general public. In February 2017, she was kidnapped while returning home from a shoot and subjected to sexual assault by a gang of men. The investigation on her case led to the arrest of fellow actor Dileep who was found guilty of conspiracy. Shedding light on the safety of actresses in the Malayalam film industry, the case was partly instrumental in the setting up of the Hema Committee and its subsequent laws.
As an outcome of the petition submitted by the Women in Cinema Collective, a board established for the women working in Malayalam Cinema, the Hema Committee became a beacon of hope for the numerous women without whom cinema would cease to be. The committee was sanctioned by the Government of Kerala, making it a legitimate body capable of conducting investigations and pressing charges.
Who constitutes the Hema Committee?
The committee is chaired by retired Kerala High Court Judge Justice K. Hema. Among other notable figures, veteran actress Sarada and retired Indian Administrative Service officer K.B. Valsala Kumari are also members who actively participate in the proceedings.
What are its objectives?
The objectives include:
- Seeking the intervention of Kerala High Court to ensure formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC).
- As a constituent of the WCC(Women in Cinema Collective), it also demands strict implementation of Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at Workplace (PoSH) Act, 2013 in all Malaylam film production units.
- Publication of the Hema Committee report which described 17 forms of exploitation faced by women in the film industry including sexual harassment by male actors. Its release was met by a major political uproar in the state of Kerala.
Active work
Though there had been quite a long period of no action, July 2024 saw a drastic change and improvement in terms of investigations on the behalf of the Kerala State Information Commission.
The Hema Committee report was addressed and allowed for public release in August 2024. Though there is still a bit of ongoing active work related to the report, a lot of reactionary action has taken place, leading to more revelations from actress or concerning other Malayali personality. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has completely dissolved its executive committee for the period 2024–2027, following the charges made by the Justice Hema Committee report.
For a detailed account on the ongoing work of the report, read here.
What does it symbolize for the Malayalam film industry?
A great deal of harassment and sexual assault stays hidden behind closed doors when it comes to show business. By keeping quiet about these issues, the power is handed over to the perpetrators who do everything in their might to dissuade the involved party in pressing charges. But, to make the space an accommodating one for both present and future artists, it is imperative that women must speak up. In this age of technical improvement, it is even harder to do away with solid evidence and the same has been noticed in the proceedings of the Hema Committee.
Actresses will no longer have to vouch for more favourable environments and conditions surrounding their work places, and beginning with the entertainment and cinema industry is a good place to start for such endeavours. Following the release of the Hema Committee report, other states in India are also coming up and petitioning for investigative boards of their own and it is so much more than just a step in the right direction. It is a means to secure the legitimacy of the Malayalam film industry as a secure and safe space for one regardless of their gender identity.
