The special investigation team (SIT) constituted to investigate the “me-too” disclosures of allegations of sexual exploitation in the Malayalam movie industry assembled at the State Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on Tuesday (August 27, 2024). The team will likely prepare a road map for the highly complex and socially sensitive investigation, which could draw a galaxy of top stars, producers and directors into its centre and potentially put them at risk of severe legal jeopardy. Harrowing first-person accounts of “coercive” sexual acts at workplaces, unwelcome sexual comments and advances at film sets, and at least one alleged instance of trafficking a junior woman artiste to a producer for sex emerged on social and mainstream media last weekend, triggering public protests and strident demands from Opposition parties for justice.
The scandal drew ruling the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government into its muddy vortex, prompting the administration to constitute the special team compromising four women IPS officers. Law in motion At least eight women, including aspiring actors and scriptwriters, have gone public with their startling accusations against top industry figures. They also drew a grim picture of a workplace culture where sexual submission was allegedly a prerequisite for film assignments.
The women also highlighted dismal working environments for less privileged women actors and technicians, including a lack of cloakrooms, toilets, secure .