‘Women,
come
out
and
speak.’
Actor-politician
Khushboo
Sundar
has
been
quite
vocal
about
the
ongoing
#MeToo
controversy
in
the
Malayalam
film
industry.
“To
all
the
men
out
there,
I
implore
you
to
stand
by
the
victim
and
show
your
unwavering
support.
Every
man
was
born
to
a
woman,
who
endured
incredible
pain
and
sacrifice.
Stand
with
us,
protect
us
and
honour
the
women
who
have
given
you
life
and
love,”
Khushboo
tells
Subhash
K
Jha
Would
you
say
this
is
a
defining
moment
for
the
#MeToo
movement
in
the
Indian
entertainment
industry?
This
moment
of
#MeToo
prevailing
in
our
industry
breaks
you.
Kudos
to
the
women
who
have
stood
their
ground
and
emerged
victorious.
The
Hema
Committee
was
much
needed
to
break
the
abuse.
But
will
it?
Abuse,
asking
for
sexual
favours
and
expecting
women
to
compromise
to
gain
a
foothold
or
accelerate
their
careers
exists
in
every
field.
Why
is
a
woman
alone
expected
to
go
through
the
grind?
Although
men
too
face
it,
it’s
comparatively
women
who
bear
the
brunt.
What
is
the
solution?
I
had
a
long
conversation
with
my
24-year-old
and
21-year-old
daughters
about
this.
I
was
amazed
at
their
empathy
and
understanding
towards
the
victims.
They
firmly
support
them
and
stand
with
them.
It
doesn’t
matter
whether
you
speak
today
or
tomorrow,
just
speak.
Speaking
up
immediately
would
help
in
healing
and
investigating
more
effectively.
But
there
is
the
fear
of
being
shamed?
The
fear
of
being
shamed,
victim
blaming,
and
questions
like
‘Why
did
you
do
it?’
or
‘What
made
you
do
it?’
break
her.
The
victim
might
be
a
stranger
to
you
or
me,
but
she
needs
our
support,
an
ear
to
listen.
She
needs
emotional
backing
from
us.
When
questioning
why
she
didn’t
come
out
earlier,
we
need
to
consider
her
circumstances:
not
everyone
is
privileged
to
speak
out.
As
a
woman
and
a
mother,
and
a
target
of
abuse,
how
deeply
do
the
confessions
of
sexual
exploitations
affect
you?
The
wounds
inflicted
by
such
violence
cut
deep,
not
only
in
the
flesh
but
in
the
very
soul.
These
acts
of
brutality
shake
the
foundations
of
our
trust,
love
and
strength.
Behind
every
mother,
there’s
a
will
to
nurture
and
protect,
and
when
that
sanctity
is
shattered,
it
affects
us
all.
Photograph:
Kind
courtesy
Khushboo
Sundar/Instagram
As
a
victim
of
abuse
yourself,
it
must
have
required
immense
courage
to
speak
up?
Some
ask
me
what
took
me
so
long
to
speak
about
my
father’s
abuse.
I
agree
I
should
have
spoken
earlier.
But
what
happened
to
me
was
not
a
compromise
to
build
my
career.
I
was
abused
at
the
hands
of
the
person
who
was
supposed
to
provide
me
the
strongest
arms
to
hold
me
if
I
fell.
What
is
your
message
to
the
men
close
to
women
who
are
victim
of
sexual
abuse?
To
all
the
men
out
there,
I
implore
you
to
stand
by
the
victim
and
show
your
unwavering
support.
Every
man
was
born
to
a
woman,
who
endured
incredible
pain
and
sacrifice.
Many
women
play
indispensable
roles
in
your
upbringing,
shaping
you
into
the
person
you
are
today
—
your
mothers,
sisters,
aunts,
teachers
and
friends.
Your
solidarity
can
be
a
beacon
of
hope,
a
symbol
that
justice
and
kindness
will
prevail.
Stand
with
us,
protect
us
and
honour
the
women
who
have
given
you
life
and
love.
Let
your
voice
be
heard
in
the
fight
against
violence
and
let
your
actions
reflect
the
respect
and
empathy
that
every
woman
deserves.
Remember,
we
are
stronger
together,
and
only
together
can
we
mend
these
wounds
and
pave
the
way
for
a
safer,
more
compassionate
world.
Many
women
are
still
unwilling
to
speak
about
their
exploitation.
Many
women
don’t
even
have
the
support
of
their
families.
They
come
from
small
towns
with
stars
in
their
eyes,
hoping
to
shine
brightly
but
often
find
their
dreams
nipped
and
crushed
at
the
bud.
This
should
be
a
wake-up
call
to
all.
Let
the
exploitation
stop
here.
Women,
come
out
and
speak.
Remember,
you
always
have
a
choice
in
life.
Your
no
is
definitely
a
no.
Never
adjust
or
compromise
on
your
dignity
and
respectability.
I
stand
with
all
the
women
who
have
been
through
this.
Do
you
feel
this
focus
on
abuse
in
the
Malayalam
film
industry
is
just
the
beginning?
We
are
focusing
on
cinema.
Sexual
advances,
abuses
and
indecent
proposals
happen
in
every
field.
A
woman
goes
through
this
every
day,
in
a
bus,
a
train,
in
a
queue,
everywhere.
Cinema
is
looked
at
through
a
magnifying
glass.
Do
not
crucify
cinema.
There
are
a
few
incidents
that
definitely
need
to
be
adhered
to,
and
the
mess
cleaned
up.
Every
field
where
a
woman
works
needs
to
have
a
committee
where
women
can
complain
and
justice
will
get
delivered.
But
cases
have
to
be
thoroughly
investigated.
Cinema
is
the
most
beautiful
industry
and
the
safest
place
to
be
in.
I
have
worked
with
the
most
amazing
men
who
have
made
sure
to
protect
me.
