The Malayalam film industry is reeling in shock as a wave of #MeToo allegations has rocked its foundations, exposing a culture of silence and complicity.
The accusations have sent tremors through the industry, leaving a trail of damaged reputations and raising questions about accountability. A quick peek into how the entire saga unfolded.
2017: A prominent female actor was abducted and sexually assaulted near Kochi. The case involving actor Dileep triggered an outrage and a call for addressing women's safety in the industry.
2017: The actor assault case and the ensuing protests led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) which sought the intervention of the Kerala HC to ensure the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and strict implementation of PoSH Act 2013 in all production units.
WCC also submitted a petition to the state government to form a committee to study and investigate the concerns of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the Malayalam film industry.
In February 2017, the Kerala government constituted a committee, headed by the former Judge of Kerala HC, Justice K. Hema. The Committee submitted its report to the government on December 31, 2019.
In August 2024, the report was made public following the direction of the HC.
With the report made public, several women in the industry came to the forefront alleging sexual assault. Allegations were raised against famous directors and actors including Jayasurya, Nivin Pauly and Siddique.
After the Hema committee report fallout, Mohanlal, president of the actors association-AMMA, resigned and dissolved the association.