The Malayalam film industry is presently facing a storm of controversy with fresh charges of sexual harassment. An aspiring male actor has filed a complaint of sexual assault against the director Ranjith. According to the complaint filed by the actor, Ranjith forced him to strip completely and assaulted him.
Kerala Police confirmed the receipt of a complaint. The actor said the assault took place in 2012. Ranjith had called him to a Bangalore hotel on the pretext of an audition. He faced coercion to strip during the audition and then suffered assault. “At that point, I thought this was all part of the audition,” he added. The next morning, Ranjith offered him money. This prompted the actor to approach the Director General of Police with a complaint. A Special Investigation Team is to investigate the case.
Besides, a Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra has also filed a complaint against Ranjith. Mitra filed the complaint with the Kochi City Police. This was shortly after Ranjith resigned as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy. Mitra’s complaint follows her recent public allegations of sexual misconduct by Ranjith. Consequently, authorities have registered a case against the director based on her allegations.
Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police S. Syamsundar informed ANI of this development. “A crime has been registered at the North Police Station under Section 354. The investigation shall proceed according to the mandate decided by the SIT constituted by the government,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Justice Hema Committee released a redacted copy of its report to the public. It details harassment, exploitation, and poor treatment of women within the Malayalam film industry. This 235-page report-withheld from naming either witnesses or the accused-reveals the suffocating stranglehold a few male producers, directors, and actors hold on the industry. A panel headed by a retired Kerala High Court judge authored the “Report on the Problems Faced by Women in the Film Industry.” The State Government received the report in December 2019, but it only became public this month.
The Kerala government has now decided to act in response. The government on Sunday also announced that it has formed a special investigation team led by a senior police officer to probe the allegations of sexual abuse in Malayalam film. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called a meeting with senior police officers to take up the issue. The move comes after interviews with and statements from women in the business who reported their harassment.
This controversy also highlights major issues within the Malayalam film industry, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to address harassment and ensure a safe workplace for all professionals. Investigations are set to increase scrutiny of the industry. They could result in significant changes in how similar cases are handled in the future.
The alleged grievous crime is with the Malayalam film industry. Presently, the complaints against the director Ranjith and the revelation of these issues in the Justice Hema Committee report brought the issue to the fore. The Kerala government’s decision to form a special investigation team demonstrates its commitment to addressing the problems and securing justice for the victims.
ANI
