In 2017, a popular Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of goons, led by a criminal named Pulsar Suni who had ties with several celebs in Malayalam Film Industry. During the police investigations, it was alleged that actor-producer Dileep had orchestrated the kidnapping over a grudge he held against the actress. As the incident revealed the rot within the working of the film industry, the Kerala High Court advised the Kerala government to set up a three-member committee, led by Justice Hema and consisting of actress Sharada and IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, to interview other victims of power dynamics and sexual harassment within the industry.
WCC (Women in Cinema Collective) - an organisation serving to empower female artists and crew members in Malayalam Cinema, which was founded after the 2017 sexual assault crime - played a crucial role in giving key insights to the report. . Seven years later and after much dilly-dallying from the CPI(M)-led ruling government of Kerala, the Kerala High Court had to intervene for the findings of the Hema Committee (or Hema Committee report) to be disclosed to the public.
There was a catch, though. The order asked for names to be omitted from the report, which led to heavy speculations and conjecture from the media and the fans. However, as Kerala was reeling from what they had read from the Hema Committee report, several alleged victims - emboldened by the impact of the report on media - have come forward with.