The Malayalam film industry is ruled by very powerful forces and is a boys’ club where it is believed that showing their power by sexually or mentally harassing women is their right, and they see no wrong in doing so, say several women artistes who are now finding the strength to come forward and share their traumatic experiences.
“In cinema, they think it is their right to abuse women and get away with it, as they feel that the ‘power group’ will be their safety net. They believe they can find protection behind the powerful men of Malayalam cinema,” said a senior actress who did not want to be named.
This sentiment was echoed by actor-producer Sandra Thomas, who, in an exclusive interview with News18, recounted her experience of being humiliated in front of the Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) after filing a complaint about unethical practices in the industry and the need for better working conditions for women artistes.
The popular Malayalam actress spoke of how she has endured many humiliating experiences. Most recently, when her film “Little Hearts” was set to release, she faced several obstacles. Shane Nigam, who played the lead role, had been banned by the industry for other reasons, and Sandra felt that her film’s posters and advertising were not given the same prominence as those of other films released at the same time. Sandra also raised issues regarding ticketing, claiming that several platforms were cheating producers or holding them to ransom. Additionally, the timing of her film’s screenings was shifted to 10 am, 11 am, and 12 pm, making it difficult for families to attend.
“I filed a complaint with the Producers’ Association. In order to discuss the issue, they called me before the executive committee, which comprised 21 men and one woman. I stood there, facing their prying eyes and smirks, as they asked me uncomfortable questions,” Sandra told News18. “They mocked me and repeatedly said there would be no solution. They ridiculed me, asking whether directors should take to the streets to stick film posters.”
For an industry known for its progressive and cutting-edge filmmaking, these stories of regressive attitudes and sexual assault have raised questions about why various associations and platforms have remained silent while women continued to suffer at the hands of their perpetrators.
A letter written by Sandra to the KFPA, stressing the need for a safer, better-paid work environment for women in the film industry, is in News18’s possession. The four-page letter, containing 15 recommendations, explains how the Hema Committee Report exposed the dark side of the industry and calls for action to address these issues. She noted that despite the Hema report being public, there has been no discussion, debate, or stance taken by any of the film organisations in the state.
Sandra’s letter highlights three key points: first, that any report of harassment or criminal activity on film sets or studios should be immediately reported to the police, rather than attempting to settle it within film organisations, which only leads to further compromise.
She also raised the need for basic amenities, such as bio-toilets for junior artistes and shared caravans for supporting actors, especially women, for their daily needs.
“Mandate caravans with two doors so that artistes can use basic facilities. Allocate one door for men and the other for women. I provided eight caravans for my film Little Hearts. I understand that budgets may be tight, but at the very least, shared bathrooms for basic needs should be in place,” she suggested.
Sandra also addressed the issue of safe toilet facilities for women in her letter.
Speaking anonymously, another actress shared her experience in front of the KFPA when the issue of washrooms for women was raised.
“The actress was asked how many times she needed to use the washroom each day. She replied four to five times. That’s when the executive committee asked her to specify whether she needed to urinate or defecate. How much more degrading and humiliating can it get?” Sandra asked.
She also emphasised the need to fix actors’ salaries based on market value, but in a way that enables producers to pay respectable wages to the rest of the cast without the lead actor taking the majority of the budget.
“In a film with a budget of Rs 4 crore, if the lead actor takes Rs 2 crore as their fee, how do we pay the rest of the crew and produce the film? Is that feasible?” Sandra questioned.
She further stressed the need for more female leadership in forums, noting that there is not a single woman in film associations, even in redressal forums set up to resolve issues for female artistes.
“A strict provision should be made to prevent individuals with external power, such as prominent political figures or highly influential individuals, from holding office in any of the industry associations. They will only try to protect their interests by using their external connections in cinema,” Sandra wrote in her letter to the KFPA.
She also advocated for a ban on intoxicants at shooting locations or accommodations during production, as well as the prohibition of alcohol consumption at wrap parties.
“Make police clearance certificates mandatory for all employees involved in film production and streamline casting calls via the Film Chamber, giving full authority to the director and producer to hire actors,” Sandra recommended.
She noted that men in the Kerala film industry are well-organised, but women are not. There is a need to form a women’s forum within the Film Chamber to include women from all areas of cinema, where they can raise their issues and seek solutions, she said.
Renowned actress and model, Shwetha Menon, who has come out strongly with her views on the issue, believes that though the churn has not fully started, the engine is in motion.
“It’s a fantastic start. It gives women the power to believe that finally, someone will listen to them seriously. The law needs to be strengthened and enforced. There must be a deep fear of the law so that those who commit crimes will be held and punished,” she said.
Menon, who has not faced the same bitter experiences that many women are now sharing, said this is because she always spoke out when she felt she was in an abusive situation. “That’s why I do a few movies, maybe five or six, and then move on. I’ve fought for my rights in every film and have always held my head high,” Menon said, adding that she fought for others as well as herself.
She emphasised that the Hema Committee Report gave women the courage to speak out after decades of abuse. “But don’t make them suffer again. Don’t make them relive the 20-year-old abuse in their minds. Give them speedy justice and ensure no more women go through it. Many women have faced these circumstances without family support, and that’s not fair. I am glad that finally, these stories are coming to light and creating ripples in the industry and the society at large,” she told News18.
Menon, who is tall, was once asked to lower her head while working in films. She refused, and her father also made it clear that she should walk with her head held high and her back straight, instilling in her a sense of confidence. “Nobody can make you look down. Chin up, head high, and then you’ll see what’s ahead of you,” her father would say, and she is glad that he did.
Menon said that while this may be a long and drawn-out fight, the collective power of women coming together to fight for the change, bring about legal reforms, and see it through to a logical conclusion is strong. “I sense a firm resolve among many and that’s a good sign.”
She hopes that this does not become Kerala’s Story — The Dirty Picture, but that the changes made will have a lasting impact across all industries, creating safer workplaces for women. “As President Droupadi Murmu told us today in no uncertain terms, ‘enough is enough’,” she said.
Menon reiterated that society needs to genuinely wake up.
“It’s a culmination of men and women so everybody needs to be a little more human and responsible with each other,” she said.
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