In another revelation in the sex scandal in the Malayalam film industry, actress Charmila has levelled serious allegations against director Hariharan that he had been putting some deplorable demands before her. The allegations have been confirmed by ex-member Vishnu. She said, “Hariharan asked me to go and question Charmila if she is ready to “adjust” One needs no brains to decipher what that means”. Vishnu says, when this question was popped before her, Charmila refused. And when Vishnu informed Hariharan about Charmila’s stand, her name was axed from the film ‘Parinayam’.
Charmila alleged that director Hariharan asked if she was willing to make an “adjustment” (a euphemism for sex). She stated, “He asked my friend and actor Vishnu if I would adjust. When I said ‘no,’ Hariharan dropped both of us from his film ‘Parinayam’.”
She also recalled a horrific incident from the sets of the 1997 film ‘Arjunan Pillayum Anju Makkalum’, alleging that her colleague was raped and she herself was assaulted. Charmila alleged that producer M.P. Mohanan and the production manager tried to rape her by pulling her saree.
Having acted in over 35 Malayalam films, Charmila shared, “During the 1997 shoot of ‘Arjunan Pillayum Anju Makkalum’, producer M.P. Mohanan, production manager Shanmukhan, and their friends attempted to gang-rape me. I somehow managed to escape from the hotel room. They tried to remove my saree.”
According to a report by Onmanorama, the actress further stated, “They also sexually harassed my assistant, and a male assistant was assaulted. The hotel receptionist where I was staying was involved too. An auto-rickshaw driver saved us. Although I managed to escape, they raped a junior artist working on the film.”
Charmila added, “I have worked in four languages. These issues are mainly in the Malayalam industry.” She explained that she refrained from filing a complaint due to her responsibilities as a mother. Charmila admitted that refusing to meet such inappropriate demands has led to fewer film offers.
Justice Hema Report exposed challenging circumstances faced by women in Malayalam film industry
The allegations by actresses from Malayalam Film Industry have started pouring in after Hema Committee Report. On 20th August, the Kerala government came under heavy criticism for or holding up the release of the Hema committee report, featuring startling information about how women are treated in the Malayalam film industry. The report was made official on 18th August.
This study, which bears the name of the committee’s chair, Justice K. Hema (Retd.), is an important document that highlights the challenging circumstances that women in the film industry face. The committee was established in response to the 2017 sexual assault of a well-known actress, which caused public indignation and prompted calls for structural reform in the business.
The study emphasized the serious obstacles that women encounter in the Malayalam film business, such as pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination based on gender, and an unfriendly workplace. The most startling discovery was that women who experience sexual harassment or assault frequently choose not to speak up for fear of being branded as “troublemakers” or being shunned by the business.
Testimonies from other women in the industry, who detailed their terrifying experiences, are included in the report. A scenario that was particularly unsettling featured an actress who was made to rehearse a scene in which she was hugged by an actor who had previously molested her. The actress suffered severe physical and psychological damage from having to endure 17 takes. Her performance was critiqued by the producer, who failed to recognize or comprehend the emotional agony she was experiencing.
The study emphasized how few basic amenities, like women’s restrooms and changing areas on movie sets, are available to women in the business. The substantial salary gap that exists in the Malayalam cinema industry between male and female actors was also highlighted by the survey.
The committee discovered that the sector frequently rejects women who dare to speak out against harassment or discrimination. They are called “problem-makers,” which negatively impacts their chances of getting a job and makes them feel alone in the workplace. The industry’s culture of backlash against female employees who speak for themselves is a contributing factor to the ongoing harassment and abuse of these workers.
