Mammootty and Mohanlal must be shocked, says Revathi

The Hema Committee report has received support from three-time National Award-winning actress Revathi. She is also one of the founders of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and has since been committed to advocating for a safer industry for women. The groundbreaking 233-page report commissioned by the Kerala government highlights the massive exploitation and harassment faced by women professionals in the Malayalam film industry.

“Everyone took it very seriously,” Revathi said, adding that the report is not just another story, but official evidence of the systemic problems in the industry. According to him, there is a criminal “gang” that wants to hunt down any woman who refuses to submit to its control, making it a first in Indian cinema.

The release of the report prompted several Malayalam actors to come out and share their experiences, which many called the industry’s #MeToo moment. Moreover, several high-profile resignations followed the report, including filmmaker Ranjith, who resigned as the president of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy in response to allegations of irregularities, while actor Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following allegations of sexual assault.

Revathi pointed out that many people have been silent for years, but now feel like they can open up after reading the report. “Some men say this has been happening to them for years – 19 years ago, 16 years ago. It’s like they’ve been silenced forever. The release of the Hema Committee report has rekindled the belief that it’s okay to speak out,” she said.

After the report was released, the Kerala government announced plans to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into all the complaints made by the survivors. Revathi admitted that though it took a long time for action to be taken, she nevertheless appreciated the courage of the Pinarayi Vijayan administration in addressing these issues.

As for the silence of Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty on the report, Revathi said they were perhaps as stunned as anyone else but had chosen to remain silent. She promised that the WCC would always strive to bring meaningful changes and provide safe workplaces for women in the industry. “We are trying to bring some kind of climax to make our workspace safe in every way. I am sure it will not stop… the government will react,” she said.

Revathi pointed out that sexual harassment is a major issue, but mental torture is another issue that needs to be addressed urgently. “Just being in a workplace where men are drinking when they should be working is one of the most difficult spaces,” she added, highlighting other challenges faced by women in the sector.