Sona Mohapatra has never seen herself as a victim; rather, she views her journey as one of a fighter battling against sexual harassment in her career. Mohapatra was among the first voices to publicly accuse music composer Anu Malik of making lewd comments and harassing her. Despite her early advocacy, the #MeToo movement faced a gradual decline over time.
However, the recent Hema Committee report, which exposed the pervasive power dynamics and casting couch culture in the Malayalam film industry, has reignited discussions on these critical issues. Also read: Sona Mohapatra hopes government forms a more vibrant culture ministry: We underestimate the soft power of art, music..
. When asked if positive changes can be anticipated following this report, Mohapatra reflects, “I do believe it is better than before in the Hindi film industry. The conversations have raised awareness about appropriate behaviour in the workplace for sure.
Many production houses have put some redressal mechanisms in place where there is a form available for people to report untoward behaviour and escalate matters. There is a better awareness of the POSH guidelines too. The world is getting better and that is a wonderful feeling to carry.
” A post shared by Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) Mohapatra, who faced professional setbacks for speaking out against injustice, remained undeterred. She emphasises the importance of persistence despite the challenges. "Public memory is indeed short and forgives these .
