On Monday (19 August 2024), the release of the Justice Hema Committee report once again put the Malayalam Film Industry under scrutiny. For years, the Malayalam Film Industry, along with its major organizations, have been accused of, and criticized for, banning people from working. Be it actors like Sukumaran and Thilakan, or the filmmaker Vinayan, many have been unofficially banned, resulting in them not being able to work.
The Justice Hema Committee report stated banning of individuals in the Malayalam Film Industry is unauthorized and illegal. The report noted that more men than women raised this issue before the panel. According to the report, only 10 to 15 people in the Malayalam film Industry hold power and control it.
The report states that certain male actors – who are also producers, distributors, exhibitors, or directors – have attained vast fame and wealth, wielding tight control over the industry. Several men testified that numerous individuals, including famous actors, had been banned illegally and with no authorisation. Justice K Hema Committee Report: “ #Malayalam film industry is under the control/clutches of certain producers, directors, actors - all male, referred to as ‘mafia’.
They control the whole film industry and dominate other persons working in cinema. No man nor woman dare to utter..
.— Cinemania (@CinemaniaIndia) August 19, 2024 According to the Justice Hema Committee report, these bans are imposed for petty reasons, like offending a member of a power group over silly issues. If someone is disliked by a member of the power group for any trivial reason at all, they stop receiving work as other members band together to ostracize the person.
The same power group wields enough influence to even ban producers and directors, no matter their work. The report also stated that these bans aren’t documented but communicated verbally. A witness, who testified in front of the Justice Hema Committee, said there’s no government authority to complain to.
Additionally, as there’s zero documentation of these illegal bans, those banned are incapable of pursuing legal action. What is Hema Committe Report and why it so important? Hema Committee was formed by Kerala government to study the hardships faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Justice Hema headed the committee and despite the submission of the report 5 years back, it was not.
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twitter.com/DYUbEMlrHe — Mohammed Ihsan (@ihsan21792) July 24, 2024 The report states, “The production controller also may tell the producer that he or she is a problem creator, or that he or she will not come on time for the movie, or that she is a ‘me-too’ person etc. If the production controller is approached by an influential person asking him not to allow a particular person to work in a cinema, then also, he uses some tactics to keep the person away.
” It then continued, “The power group has no authority to ban any person from working in cinema. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional also.
” Meanwhile, some women alerted the committee that this power group ensures that actors associated with the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) lose opportunities. WCC members believe they were banned as they spoke out about the undesirable practices occurring within the Malayalam Film Industry. "In the beginning, we found it strange, but as the study progressed, we realised that their fear is well-founded.
" The one line that should tell us how monumental the Hema Committee report is - although redacted. pic.twitter.
com/L0O9GJ3rTi — Ragamalika (@rgmlk) August 19, 2024 Notably, the report recalled an instance when a “very famous actor” referred to this power group as a “mafia sangham.” The actor was quickly ostracized despite being “one of the best actors in the industry.” When he attempted to make a living by working in TV serials, the power group extended their influence, further hurting his career with malicious intent.
The report also states: “On different occasions, famous actors, prominent office bearers of artist association (AMMA), FEFKA used their influence over various actors, technicians, producers, financers, not to work or associate with the said director In any of his project.” See Also: Dharmendra Appreciates Vinesh Phogat After WIfe, Hema Malini Suggests The Athlete To Lose Weight; Internet Reacts.
