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A total of 17 cases have been registered in connection with the sexual harassment allegations that rocked the Malayalam film industry and led to the dissolution of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Several film stars and filmmakers could be questioned soon. The latest complaint was filed by actress Sonia Malhaar, who alleged that she was sexually harassed by the actor on the sets of a 2013 film. The actor has lodged a complaint with the Special Investigation Team set up by the Kerala government to deal with the #MeToo storm. She requested the film industry and urged the media not to associate actor Jayasuriya with his allegations. Actress Minu Muneer had earlier accused actors M Mukesh, Jayasuriya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu of harassment during the shooting of a film but received threatening messages following her comments. Last night she posted a screenshot of the threatening messages she received on social media. The SIT, which is investigating the matter, will record her statement soon.
In a media interaction, Minu Muneer shared her harrowing experience. “I had a bitter experience while shooting for a film. When I went to the toilet and came out, Jayasuriya hugged me from behind and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and ran away,” she said. The actor offered her more work if she wanted to be with him. She also alleged that former AMMA secretary Idavela Babu called her to his residence on the pretext of helping her with AMMA and physically abused her. She also claimed that her membership was rejected after he rejected the invitation of actor Mukesh, an MLA of the ruling CPM. “There is a lot of exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. I am a witness and a victim. When I moved to Chennai, no one asked me what happened,” she told.
Following the allegations, Mukesh welcomed a thorough investigation to clear his name. He claims that Minu Muneer has sought financial help and tried to blackmail him in the past. He said: This group, which relentlessly threatened me and demanded money, has turned against me at this opportune time. The actor has since been removed from the state committee that regulates film policy. Other actors who have spoken out include Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra, who has accused director Ranjith of sexual abuse. In an interview, Mitra agreed that harassment of women is an open secret in every film industry. “Actresses must feel insecure about their jobs,” she told. “Everyone knows about it. It's nothing new. It is widely used in the industry. The problem is that it has become the norm.”
Last night, AMMA, the Malayalam film industry's top decision-making body, took moral responsibility and dissolved in view of allegations made by some actors against some members of the committee." Famous actor Mohanlal has resigned from the chairmanship of this committee. The series of allegations against the pioneers of the Malayalam film industry come in the backdrop of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report last week. The 235-page report, released with names of witnesses and accused redacted, said the Malayalam film industry is dominated by 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors. The three-member Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the state government in 2017 and submitted its report in 2019. This report has not yet been published due to legal concerns about its publication.
