The Hema Committee report on how women are treated in Malayalam cinema has opened a Pandora’s box in Kerala. Amid this, actor Vishal – who is also the general secretary of the South Indian Artists’ Association (SIAA) – recently called for a similar committee like the Hema Committee to address various kinds of exploitations prevalent in the Tamil film industry. In a recent media interaction, Vishal said, “People who are misbehaving with women should be hit with slippers.” He also expressed concern over the situation women go through in Kerala. The actor also added, “I was asked: Is there no one to address the suffering of Tamil actresses? I want to reassure them, we (SIAA) are there, and we won’t let the miscreants go scot-free”. The over 200-page Hema Committee Report, which was released on August 20, exposed the existence of an all-male power circle made up of 15 significant personalities, including directors, producers, and actors. “The Nadigar Sangam will form a committee in the next ten days. Preparations are underway and an announcement will be made soon. It is our duty to do so. The association is not just for the men in the industry. It’s also for women to know that there is someone there for them,” Vishal said.
As per reports, this group dictates who remains in the industry and who is cast in films. The report states, “The Malayalam film industry is controlled by certain producers, directors, and actors — all male. They control the industry and wield power over others in the film business.” It also emphasises the existence of criminal and sexist aspects in the entertainment industry.
The Hema Committee Report, established to address the safety and rights of women in the Kerala film industry, has highlighted the persistent issues of sexual harassment and the broader neglect of basic rights faced by women in cinema.
The Hema Committee was formed in 2017 by the Kerala government following a high-profile incident where an actress was allegedly assaulted at the behest of actor Dileep.
The committee was formed in response to rising pressure from the Women in Cinema Collective, an organisation that advocates for improved working conditions for women in the film industry. Led by former Kerala High Court judge K Hema, the committee also included veteran actor T Sarada and retired Principal Secretary KB Valsalakumari.
Vishal was recently seen in the Tamil-language action drama film Rathnam. It is directed by Hari and jointly produced by Stone Bench Films, Zee Studios, and Invenio Origin. The film stars Vishal in the titular role, alongside Priya Bhavani Shankar, Samuthirakani, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Yogi Babu in pivotal roles.
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