Bengaluru:

Malayalam director Ranjith Balakrishnan has been booked for sexual assault – based on a complaint filed last week in Bengaluru by a 31-year-old male actor – as the #MeToo wave continues to sweep the Kerala film industry after the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report was released.

The actor alleged he was sexually assaulted by the filmmaker at a five-star hotel in the city.

He said he first met Ranjith in Kozhikode (Calicut) when the director was shooting the Mammootty-starrer ‘Bavuttiyude Namathil’. The male actor has claimed Ranjith invited him to the hotel near Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport in December 2012 – on the pretext of an audition – and then sexually assaulted him; the filmmaker allegedly forced the man to strip in exchange for a prominent role in his movie. The man said he thought stripping was part of the audition.

READ | Actor Details Sex Assault In Ranjith #MeToo Case, Thought It Was Audition

A three-time National Film Awards winner, Ranjith, 60, has also been accused of sexual assault by a Bengali actress who filed a complaint with the Kochi Police Commissioner. Kochi police have registered a case based on her complaint, which alleges she was assaulted in a city hotel.

Ranjith has denied the allegation, explaining he had called the actress – Sreelekha Mitra – for an audition for the movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’ but sent her back after deciding she was not suitable.

In her complaint – sent via email – Ms Mitra alleged Ranjith touched her inappropriately, with sexual intent, after inviting her to act in the movie. This was in 2009.

Ranjith, who was then the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, quit after tremendous pressure on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his government by the opposition.

Congress leader VD Satheeshan, also the Leader of the Opposition, and the BJP’s state boss, K Surendran, had both demanded Ranjith’s resignation from the academy.

Rape and assault allegations against senior Malayalam actors and film directors have been pouring in since the Justice Hema Committee report was released in August. Multiple cases have been filed against top actors, including Mukesh, who is also a lawmaker with the ruling CPIM.

READ | Kerala MLA Mukesh Arrested In Malayalam MeToo Row, To Be Freed

Mukesh was arrested late last month; he had, however, secured anticipatory bail. He has been charged with offences including the use of force against women with intent to outrage her modesty.

A day later another top Malayalam film industry figure, Edavela Babu – actor and former General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes, or AMMA – was arrested in a rape case.

READ | Malayalam Actor Edavela Babu Arrested In Rape Case

The uproar over these and other cases led to the dissolution of the AMMA Executive Committee that was led by top actor Mohanlal, who said the panel was taking “moral responsibility” and had dissolved itself “in light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee”.

READ | Mohanlal Quits As Malayalam Film Body Chief Amid #MeToo Storm

The flood of sexual assault and rape allegations also found echoes in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, after popular actor Sowmya accused a Tamil director of horrific mental, physical, and sexual assault.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

The BJP today spoke up on the massive controversy over the Hema Committee report on sexual harassment in the Malayalam movie industry, with party chief JP Nadda hinting that the Left government in Kerala is complicit in it. Speaking at an internal meeting of the party in Kerala’s Palakkad, Mr Nadda questioned the delay in the release of the Hema Committee report.

“Why is the delay in giving justice on the Hema Committee report? What is stopping them (the Kerala government)? What is holding you (up)? Because you are part and parcel if it,” he said.

“It is something you want to hide because your people are involved…I am very sorry to say that the Hema Committee report very specifically said that Communist Party leaders are involved. The Chief Minister should come out and tell what really happened,” Mr Nadda was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Earlier, Union minister Suresh Gopi indicated that the controversy was a media creation. Media, he said, was “distorting public perception”.
The Malayalam film industry is facing a major crisis after the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the industry was made public earlier this month.

It contains accounts alleging harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals. It was followed by a spate of allegations from various women artistes and other workers.

The government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. “The SIT has been strengthened by including additional women officers. All related cases registered at local police stations are to be handed over to the SIT for further investigation,” the Kerala Police said in a statement.

Amid the storm in Mollywood surrounding sexual assault allegations against some top actors and directors, legendary actor Mammooty has said there is “no power centre” in Malayalam cinema and appealed to police to investigate the allegations honestly.

This comes a day after Mohanlal, another top actor of Malayalam cinema, said that neither was he a part of any power group in Mollywood, nor was he aware of any such group.

In a Facebook post, 72-year-old Mammootty said cinema is a reflection of the society and the good and bad in the society are also present in the film industry.

The Justice Hema Committee, he said, was formed to suggest solutions and recommend measures after something that should never have happened. Welcoming the recommendations of the panel, Mammooty said police investigation is proceeding swiftly.

“The full version of the Justice Hema committee report is before the court. Let the police investigate honestly. Let the court decide the punishments. There is no ‘powerhouse’ in cinema,” he said.

The veteran actor said that the norm is that the actors’ organisation responds to such issues first. He said he waited this long for this very reason.

New Delhi:

Denying the sexual harassment allegations against him, actor Jayasurya today said that he would take legal action. The case is among the avalanche of sexual assault and rape allegations against some of Mollywood’s biggest names, including veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.

Two actors have filed cases against Jayasurya, both of which the actor claimed are false.

“I have decided to move forward with this legally. My legal team will be looking after the rest of the proceedings regarding this case. False allegations are easy to make for anyone who lacks a conscience. I only hope one realises that facing a false accusation of harassment is just as painful as the harassment itself,” Jayasurya said in an Instagram post.

“A lie always travels faster than the truth but I believe truth will prevail. All the legal proceedings to prove my innocence will continue. I have complete faith in our judicial system. Thank you to those who contributed to making this birthday the most painful one,” he added.

The MeToo storm in the Malayalam film industry started after the report by Justice Hema Committee, which details allegations of sexual harassment by women in the industry, was made public. The 235-page report, published after redacting names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by 10-15 male producers, directors, and actors.

Also read: Hidden cameras in movie caravans to film women change, alleges actor

Actor Minu Muneer has accused Jayasurya and M Mukesh of sexual harassment during the shooting of a movie in 2013.

Speaking to NDTV, the actor shared her harrowing ordeal. “I had a bitter experience while shooting for a film. I had gone to the toilet and when I came out, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and I ran out,” she said, adding that the actor offered her more work if she was willing to be with him.

New Delhi:

Actor Mohanlal today praised the government for releasing the Justice Hema Committee report, which details allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. The former Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA) president’s remarks come in the light of an avalanche of sexual assault and rape allegations against some of Mollywood’s biggest names, including veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.

“We welcome the Hema Committee report. It was the right decision by the government to release that report. AMMA cannot answer all the questions. These questions should be asked from everyone. This is a very hardworking industry. Many people are involved in it. But everyone cannot be blamed for this. Those responsible will be punished, investigation is going on,” the actor said.

The 235-page report by Justice Hema Committee, published after redacting names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by 10-15 male producers, directors, and actors.

Mohanlal said he was not part of any power group in the Malayalam film industry and he has no knowledge of the existence of any such group in the sector. He said Malayalam cinema is a huge industry where thousands of people work and the actor’s association AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) could not address issues that cropped up there.

This is the first time that Mohanlal has addressed the media since the release of the expert panel report.

“Wrongdoers should be punished if there is evidence against them,” the “Drishyam” actor said while referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct and assaults that surfaced against some of the members of the Association.

The 64-year-old resigned from his post at the AMMA earlier this month after the allegations surfaced, and was criticised by many for not staying in power and ensuring that the victims get justice.

Other members of the film body’s executive committee also submitted resignations as the #MeToo storm in the state grew stronger.

A statement from AMMA said the top decision-making body had taken “moral responsibility” and dissolved itself “in light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee”.

New Delhi:

The #MeToo movement across the Malayalam film industry has created waves across the country with several young actors now speaking out about the abuse they faced at the hands of veteran directors, producers, and actors. Film director Ranjith now facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct, with two separate cases filed against him. The latest complaint has been lodged by a young actor who alleges he was sexually abused by Ranjith in 2012.

According to the complaint filed with the Kochi police, the victim was lured to a hotel in Bengaluru under the pretext of an audition. Ranjith allegedly forced the victim to strip and assaulted him, promising prominent roles in exchange. The victim claimed he believed it was part of the audition process and was even offered money the next morning.

This is the second case of sexual allegations against Ranjith. Earlier, a Bengali actor had filed a complaint against him, alleging sexual assault. The Kochi police have registered an FIR in connection with her complaint, which alleges that she was assaulted in a hotel in Kochi.

Ranjith denied the accusations, explaining that Mitra was called for an audition for the movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’, but he decided that she was not suitable for the role and sent her back.

Amid mounting pressure on the government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team for the probe into the allegations made in the wake of the Hema Committee report being published.

Ranjith, who was the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, quit the post on Sunday after tremendous pressure was put on the Pinarayi Vijayan government by the Opposition parties and the media had a field day ever since the Hema Committee report which was made public recently, exposing “rampant sexual abuse” in the Malayalam film industry.

New Delhi:

Author and columnist Shobhaa De has strongly criticised the “silence” in Bollywood and the disappearing act of Malayalam cinema director Mohanlal after a massive #MeToo movement hit Kerala’s film industry.

Over a dozen Malayalam cinema actors, directors and producers face rape and sex harassment charges after the Justice K Hema Committee report, which looked into issues faced by women in Kerala’s film industry, made it to the public.

Shobhaa De singled out Mohanlal for his ‘cowardice’ in resigning as chief of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA), instead of staying where he is and ensuring the survivors get justice. All members of the film body’s executive committee had also quit. “Stand up, be a man, tell your other team members to take responsibility and help those who are at the receiving end,” she said.

“The tragedy in this particular case is that for nearly five years the Justice Hemareport had been lying there, nothing had been done. There was a breakaway group started by some women in the Malayalam film industry who were completely disheartened by the pathetic working conditions, and it was a cosy men’s club controlled by 15-20 men, who had absolutely power over their working and personal life,” Shobhaa De told NDTV.

“In 2017 there was an abduction and rape case. What we are seeing today is a very strong and overdue reaction to the general rot in the Malayalam film industry. But it’s not unique to Malayalam cinema. It’s widespread. It’s happening in Bollywood, in Bengal, I’m sure in the film industry in Karnataka as well,” she said.

Shobhaa De pointed at the “patriarchal system” that has taken hold of the film industry as a huge factor behind the #MeToo cases.

“The way this industry works is it’s a patriarchal system in its nastiest, most toxic form. Women seem to be completely voiceless and powerless. So things must be changed. I’m extremely, in a way, disheartened, shocked that the all-powerful executive committee could do headed by Mohanlal was to resign en masse. How does it help?

“Good leadership is about saying they are going to stay right where they are and ensure some kind of action against the perpetrators of violence against women, sexual favours being exchanged, even something as basic as toilets (on the sets) being denied to women in the film industry. This is not only inhuman, but callous, it’s cold-blooded, it’s well-calculated. It’s not as if people were not aware of this pathetic condition. No one spoke up. Worse, no one did anything about it.

“I’m equally shocked that not a single strong, male voice has emerged out of Bollywood. Not a single male actor of any worth has spoken against what they are seeing in the industry. They are all colleagues. You stand by your colleagues when they need you and speak up when needed to speak up, whether men or women,” Shobhaa De told NDTV.

She said it seems to be a complicit agreement, that men across the board in the industry “not to damn each other and not to draw too much focus into what has been going on.”

“I don’t accept there’s apathy. This is a tipping point. This kind of conversation we didn’t hear for the last five years. This thing (report) that has been tabled is not something new… Bollywood hasn’t spared its women, and yet how many women do you hear speaking up? How many women are you hearing from the Bengal film industry?

“Where are the big stars from Bollywood? They didn’t even as much as say ‘we stand by the victims, we stand in solidarity with the victims of these atrocities which have been going on unchecked, unabated because of the men in the industry who call all the shots.

“Till that equation changes, I don’t see anything much changing because the money is controlled by the men, they decide who is in, who is out, who gets the job, who gets a role, which technician is cooperative, which women is willing to go to bed with a director, producer, a cameraperson.

“If not, if she is seen as a troublemaker, if she’s seen as a woman who stands up for her self-respect, she is out. Which means we are rendering a group of women who may be completely qualified to do the job, but would be discriminated against because they are not willing to trade their bodies for a job. You are impacting the work environment in a way that you’re leaving out women from earning their livelihood,” the top author and columnist told NDTV.

“This is unforgivable, unless action is taken. Action should be taken at a tribunal level. The perpetrators must be punished. It is time for action. This should not be some noise only to disappear,” she said.

New Delhi:

Actor Sonia Malhar — who filed a #MeToo complaint against a fellow actor amid a flood of complaints about longstanding sexual exploitation in Malayalam movie industry — has told NDTV today that she has done it despite family pressure to “close all the things”. “But I revealed the face of that hero, because otherwise it cause loss of my dignity also. If I close the case, that is not good for me,” she added.

The actor has spoken to the Special Investigation Team formed to look into the matter. The name of the person she accused, has, however, not been revealed.

 “Maybe within two days I will reveal his name and discuss with my family and go through the cases like that,” she said.

Ms Malhar is one of many women actors who have spoken up after the Justice Hema Committee report revealed the dark underbelly of Malayalam film industry, where sexual abuse and exploitation has been rampant for decades.

The women, including a Bengali actress, have gone public with allegations of sexual harassment against some of the best-known faces of Malayalam cinema, including eminent director Ranjith and actors Siddique and Mukesh.

Amid the outrage it provoked, Mohanlal, well-known actor and president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, resigned alongside other top officials. AMMA said the administrative panel has resigned, taking moral responsibility for the allegations.

Asked if flagging such incidents and starting the legal process is any easier, given the number of women speaking up, Ms Malhar responded in the negative.

“It is not an easy process for victims, with the trauma, mental stress, money… All people want our body. They never consider that we have a soul or mind,” she said.

“I recorded my statement yesterday as I feel justice is getting delayed… We are not sure if we will get 100 per cent justice here or not… In the Hema committee report, it is still not clear who are those heavyweights and politicians involved,” she added.

Chennai:

Celebrated singer Chinmayi Sripaada, a key face of the “MeToo” movement in India, has expressed hope that the Hema Committee Report’s exposure of the dark underbelly of Kerala’s film industry will encourage more women survivors of sexual violence to come forward and report it. “Siddique and Ranjith, who have resigned, are not the only two in the Kerala film industry facing allegations of sexual offences,” she told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

The Justice Hema Committee report — providing sordid details of sexual abuse, systemic harassment, and a “criminal nexus” within Mollywood — has opened a Pandora’s box of more complaints against senior artistes and directors. 

Shortly after its contents were made public, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, resigned from their positions in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), amid allegations of misconduct.

On Monday, a junior artiste in the Malayalam film industry accused award-winning actor and director Baburaj of rape. Baburaj, who is the Joint Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, or AMMA, has denied any wrongdoing.

Chinmayi highlighted the difficulties survivors face in seeking justice, including loss of livelihood and challenges in proving sexual offences. 

She underscored the need for a swift and sensitive justice system, citing her own experience of being banned from dubbing and facing a badly hit singing career after levelling molestation allegations against lyricist Vairamuthu and actor Radha Ravi.

The system, she said, makes it difficult for survivors to file police complaints, sharing her own experience of being molested several years ago and the taboo surrounding police stations at the time and the long period of trial.  

She praised the actors in Kerala who have spoken out against sexual abuse and expressed her desire for other people in industries to follow suit. 

Asked about women in many cases not coming forward to file police complaints, she said, “Most of it is circumstantial evidence. Even bruises get healed in a few days”. 

“We need a swift sensitive legal system from the very beginning. We can’t be carrying bodycam all the time. Violations like molestation happen in a jiffy,” she said. 

The ICC system was brought in to make the system faster but hasn’t worked, she said, underscoring that they “expected a lot from the National Commission for Women”. 

The political class and the film industry, she said, continue to associate with those facing “MeToo” allegations. “Politicians support men facing sexual harassment allegations because they are vote banks,” she added.

The Kerala government has formed a special team to investigate the atrocities faced by women in movie industry. The seven-member team was formed after a high-level meeting of senior police officials was called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The chief minister’s office said the special team will be headed by IG Sparjan Kumar and will include four senior women IPS officers of the state.

Over the last weeks, the Malayalam film industry has been rent by allegations of harassment and sexual abuse on women professionals.

The issue, which has been on the backburner for long, made headlines after the Hema Committee submitted its report after a XX-year investigation.

The 290-page report, commissioned by the Kerala government and headed by retired Justice K Hema in 2017  revealed systemic harassment, abuse, and a “criminal nexus” within the industry.

Shortly after its contents were made public,  director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, have resigned from their positions in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy  and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), amid allegations of misconduct.

Ranjith, a prominent filmmaker and the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, had resigned after a Bengal actress accused him of inappropriate behaviour. Ranjith has denied the allegations, claiming that he is the “real victim”.

The Hema Committee report revealed numerous instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty.