‘Silence
is
the
convention.
Silence
is
appreciated.
Silence
is
practical
and
silence
is
rewarded.’
‘This
is
how
sexual
harassment
in
showbiz
is
normalised.’
Kerala
Chief
Minister
Pinarayi
Vijayan
meets
with
Justice
Hema,
left,
as
she
submits
a
report
on
issues
faced
by
women
in
the
Malayalam
film
industry.
Photograph:
ANI
Photo
The
Malayalam
film
industry
is
currently
struggling
with
the
various
sexual
allegations
cropping
up,
and
the
office
bearers
of
the
Association
of
Malayalam
Movie
Artists
(AMMA),
including
superstar
Mohanlal,
resigning.
Quite
a
few
celebrities
like
Prithviraj
Sukumaran,
Tovino
Thomas
and
Parvathy
Thiruvothu
have
reacted
to
the
Hema
Committee
report,
which
highlights
the
atrocities
faced
by
female
artistes.
Swara
Bhasker
has
penned
a
long
post,
sharing
her
thoughts
on
gender
violence:
I’ve
just
got
down
to
reading
the
findings
of
the
redacted
Hema
Committee
Report
and
the
findings
are
heartbreaking…and
familiar!’
‘I
finally
got
around
to
reading
about
the
findings
of
the
Hema
Committee
Report.
Before
anything
else,
a
big
big
hug
and
gratitude
to
the
brave
women
of
the
Women
In
Cinema
Collective
(WCC)
who
have
consistently
raised
their
voice
against
sexual
harassment
and
violence,
who
demanded
that
an
expert
committee
examine
the
working
conditions
of
women
in
their
industry
and
suggest
solutions,
who
testified
before
the
Hema
Committee,
who’ve
held
the
hands
of
and
provided
solace
to
each
other
and
to
all
women
who
have
suffered
sexual
harassment
and
violence
in
the
industry.
‘You
are
heroes
and
you
are
doing
the
work
that
people
in
positions
of
greater
power
ought
to
have
done
already.
Respect
and
solidarity
with
you!
‘It
has
been
heartbreaking
to
read
the
findings
of
the
committee.
More
heartbreaking
because
it
is
familiar.
Maybe
not
every
detail
and
not
every
nitty
gritty
but
the
larger
picture
of
what
the
women
have
testified
to
is
all
too
familiar.’
‘Showbiz
is
and
always
has
been
a
male-centric
industry,
a
patriarchal
power
set-up.
It’s
also
deeply
perception-sensitive
and
risk-averse.
‘Every
day
of
production
–
shoot
days
but
also
pre
and
post-production
days
–
are
days
when
the
meter
is
running
and
money
is
being
spent.
No
one
likes
a
disruption.
Even
if
the
disruptor
has
raised
her
voice
for
what
is
ethically
correct.
It’s
so
much
more
convenient
and
financially
practical
to
just
carry
on.
‘Showbiz
is
not
just
patriarchal,
it’s
also
feudal
in
character.
Successful
actors,
directors
and
producers
are
elevated
to
the
status
of
demi-gods
and
anything
they
do
goes.
If
they
do
something
unsavoury,
the
norm
for
everyone
around
is
to
look
away.
‘If
someone
makes
too
much
noise
and
doesn’t
let
an
issue
drop,
label
them
‘trouble-makers’
and
let
them
bear
the
brunt
of
their
overenthusiastic
conscience.
‘Silence
is
the
convention.
Silence
is
appreciated.
Silence
is
practical
and
silence
is
rewarded.
‘This
happens
everywhere
in
the
world.
This
is
how
sexual
harassment
in
showbiz
is
normalised
and
this
is
how
a
predatory
atmosphere
becomes
‘the
way
things
are.’
‘Let’s
be
clear,
when
power
equations
are
so
skewed,
newcomers
and
other
women
who
accept
these
conditions
cannot
be
blamed
for
working
within
a
framework
they
have
not
created.
Accountability
must
always
be
sought
from
those
who
hold
the
reins
of
power
and
who
create
conditions
where
women
have
no
choice
if
they
want
work.
‘The
Hema
Committee
Report
details
experiences
of
women
from
the
Malayalam
film
industry
but
that’s
only
because
the
horrific
case
of
sexual
assault
of
an
actress
allegedly
orchestrated
by
superstar
Dileep
opened
a
Pandora’s
box
for
them.
And
these
women
of
the
WCC
and
their
well
wishers
did
something
unprecedented:
they
banded
together
to
demand
justice
and
equal
treatment.
‘Are
other
language
industries
in
India
even
talking
about
such
things?
‘Until
we
don’t
face
the
uncomfortable
truths
we
all
know
exist
all
around
us,
the
brunt
of
existing
abuses
of
power
will
continue
to
be
borne
by
those
who
are
vulnerable.’
