17 cases registered till now in Mollywood MeToo wave
The #MeToo movement has hit the Malayalam film industry, with 17 cases being registered so far. These allegations have led to the dissolution of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Several prominent figures in the industry are likely to be questioned in connection with these cases. Among those accused are actors M Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu.
Actor Sonia Malhaar's complaint
The most recent complaint was lodged by actor Sonia Malhaar, who accused an unidentified actor of molesting her on a film set in 2013. She filed the complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Kerala government to address the #MeToo allegations in the film industry. Malhaar has requested the media not to associate actor Jayasurya with her accusations.
Minu Muneer alleges threats after speaking out
Minu Muneer, another actor who had previously accused actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, Raju, and Babu of harassment during film shoots, has now claimed that she is receiving threatening messages. She shared a screenshot of one such message on social media. The SIT investigating the matter will soon record her statement, said reports.
Muneer's chilling experience
In an interview with NDTV, Muneer recounted her disturbing experience. "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. She added that Jayasurya offered her more work if she agreed to be with him.
Muneer's allegations against other actors
Muneer also alleged that former AMMA secretary Babu invited her to his flat under the guise of assisting her with an AMMA membership, and physically abused her. She further claimed that actor Mukesh, who is also an MLA of the ruling CPM, denied her membership after she rejected his advances. "There is a lot of exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. I am a witness and victim," she told NDTV.
Mukesh's response to the allegations
In response to the accusations, Mukesh has called for a thorough investigation to clear his name. He alleged that Muneer had previously sought financial help from him and attempted to blackmail him. "This group, which has been persistently blackmailing me for money, has now turned against me at this opportune moment," he said. Meanwhile, he has been removed from a government panel tasked with formulating film policy.
Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra accuses director Ranjith of molestation
Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra is among the other actors who have spoken out. She accused film director Ranjith of molestation. In a conversation with NDTV, Mitra acknowledged that harassment of women is an open secret in the film industry. "Women actors should learn to say no. They are insecure about the job. They think If I say no, someone else will say yes," she said.
AMMA dissolves itself amid allegations
In response to the allegations, the Malayalam film industry's top decision-making body, AMMA, took moral responsibility and dissolved itself. Prominent actor Mohanlal stepped down as president of the panel. This move comes in the wake of the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report last week, which highlighted that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by 10-15 male producers, directors, and actors.
Justice Hema Committee report and its implications
The Justice Hema Committee, a three-member panel, was established by the state government in 2017 and submitted its report in 2019. The report, which is 235 pages long, was not made public until now due to legal challenges to its release. The state's women's commission has stated that based on the committee's recommendations, the government will take steps to ensure grievance redressal committees as per the POSH Act on film sets.
