The Malayalam film industry is facing significant turmoil following the release of the Justice K. Hema committee’s report on issues confronting women in the industry. The controversy escalated on Sunday, August 25, 2024, with the resignations of two prominent figures. Under mounting pressure from the Opposition and the film community, the Kerala government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into multiple sexual harassment allegations against actors.
Actor Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) after being accused of sexual assault by a young actress. Concurrently, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairperson Ranjith stepped down following allegations of inappropriate behavior made by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra.
The Hema Committee’s report has stirred intense debates in the public domain, seemingly encouraging more women to come forward with their experiences of harassment. Over the past few days, several women, including Sreelekha Mitra and the young actress, have publicly accused various actors and filmmakers of misconduct.
Siddique confirmed his resignation to The Hindu, stating that he had submitted his resignation letter to Mohanlal, AMMA’s president, due to the allegations against him. “I submitted the resignation voluntarily since it is inappropriate to continue in that position when I am facing such an allegation. No one demanded for my resignation. Let the truth come out,” said Siddique. He added that he would respond in detail after receiving legal counsel.
The young actress detailed her accusations against Siddique during a media interaction on Saturday evening. She claimed that Siddique had contacted her through social media, offering a role in a Tamil film in which his son would also be acting. Trusting his intentions because he addressed her as “daughter,” she traveled to Thiruvananthapuram to pursue the offer. However, she described it as a trap, alleging that the film did not exist and that Siddique sexually assaulted her in a hotel room for an hour. “He hit and kicked me when I resisted. Some of my friends too had similar experiences from him. I had to give up my dreams and go through a lot of mental health issues,” she said.
Siddique’s resignation came just two days after he addressed the media with AMMA’s initial response to the Hema committee report, during which he asserted that the organization had not received any complaints about a ‘casting couch.’
Shortly after Siddique’s resignation, Ranjith also announced his decision to step down. He confirmed to The Hindu that he had submitted his resignation to Kerala’s Minister for Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian. In a voice message to the media, Ranjith explained that he did not want the allegations against him to be used to tarnish the State government’s image, which had appointed him. He expressed confidence that the truth would eventually come to light and indicated that he would respond to the accusations legally.
Sreelekha Mitra accused Ranjith of behaving inappropriately with her during the pre-production of the 2009 Malayalam film *Paleri Manikyam: OruPathirakolapathakathinteKatha.* Her allegations were supported by documentary filmmaker Joshy Joseph, who stated that she had confided in him about the incident on the same day. Although Ranjith denied the allegations, he acknowledged that she had met him during an audition for the role in the presence of other crew members.
The accusations against Ranjith, first made public on Friday, August 22, 2024, led to intense pressure on the State government from various quarters, including the film industry, the Opposition, and even members of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), to demand his resignation. However, Minister Cherian had initially defended Ranjith, emphasizing that an acclaimed filmmaker like him could not be punished solely based on accusations. Cherian indicated that strong action would be taken only if a formal complaint was lodged.
By Sunday, August 25, 2024, Minister Cherian announced that the government would accept Ranjith’s resignation as soon as it was submitted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also staged a protest march to Ranjith’s residence in Kozhikode on Sunday, demanding his resignation.
The ongoing controversy has not only led to the resignations of Siddique and Ranjith but has also implicated other prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry. Several women have accused former AMMA general secretary Edavela Babu, along with actors Mukesh, Sudheesh, and Riyas Khan, of sexual harassment or misconduct. These public revelations reportedly forced the State government to reconsider its earlier stance that it required a formal complaint or legally substantiated evidence to take action on the allegations and the Hema Committee report.
The situation has ignited a political storm in Kerala, with the Opposition accusing the government of shielding those responsible for sexual violence by failing to act on the report, which was submitted almost four years ago. The Opposition is now preparing to escalate pressure on the government by initiating legal proceedings in response to the allegations.
In response to the growing controversy, the Kerala government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a preliminary investigation into the sexual harassment allegations. The SIT, led by Inspector General G. Sparjan Kumar, includes four senior women police officers and will carry out the inquiry under Section 173 (1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. This section mandates that a woman police officer should record the information provided by a woman who has been subjected to or faced an attempt of sexual offenses.
The SIT’s formation reflects the government’s response to the mounting pressure to take decisive action following the release of the Hema Committee report and the subsequent wave of allegations. As the investigation unfolds, the Malayalam film industry and the political landscape of Kerala are likely to remain in the spotlight, with many closely watching the developments that will follow.
