Immediate action against the alleged perpetrators, regardless of their political positioning, is the need of the hour.
We stand in solidarity with the courageous women who have come forward to share their harrowing experiences of sexual assault in the Malayalam film industry. The ordeal of an actress in 2017 marked the beginning of a movement that has unmasked an industry once a source of our pride.
The tireless efforts of the Hema Committee in investigating these crimes and the bravery of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), who relentlessly advocate for basic human rights and dignity, deserve a standing ovation. Their dedication has been instrumental in fostering a sense of accountability within the industry.
However, we cannot help but express our outrage at the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for their inaction and complicity in perpetuating the toxic culture that has allowed such abuses to flourish. It is astonishing that not even a modicum of the bravery and chivalry their characters embody on the silver screen was exhibited while their co-workers were treated as less than human in real life.
Furthermore, the thoughtless response of the concerned Minister and the government’s hesitancy in publishing the entire report are highly deplorable. The delay in taking concrete action is unacceptable. Immediate action against the alleged perpetrators, regardless of their political positioning, is the need of the hour.
While we acknowledge the government’s initiative to appoint a commission to investigate gender violence in the cinema industry—a pioneering step in the country—the report will fade away as just another prime-time discussion unless swift and decisive actions are taken
We stand in solidarity with the survivors and applaud their bravery. Film stars need to come to their senses and be reminded that they are also citizens of this country, like us. Nothing less, nothing more. We, the people, write the script for this country, and we declare that the upcoming scenes will not be bright for the predators.
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