Actress Sangeetha Bhat Demands Hema Committee-like Report In Kannada Film Industry

Justice K Hema Committee Report has been released and has caused a massive furor in the Malayalam cinema. The report revealed rampant sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry and with fingers pointing at senior AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) members. Now, Kannada actress Sangeetha Bhat has also demanded the formation of a similar committee in the Kannada film industry. The actress told News 18 Kannada that not only women but male artists are also suffering in the Kannada film industry. According to Sangeetha, due to this reason, there is a need for a committee to report on the issues going on here. She said that the Justice K Hema Committee report has brought out the stark reality of the Malayalam cinema. According to Sangeetha, the struggle for women’s safety has recently started during the #MeToo movement. She said that the FIRE committee (Film Industry for Rights and Equality) has supported them in fighting for their rights in the #MeToo movement. So now, Sangeetha said that the Kannada artists have also submitted a request regarding the formation of an organisation like the Justice K Hema Committee.

Sangeetha said that it is important to study the problems of everyone and submit a report to the government. She said that there is only one system here and it would be good if the system of resolving women’s complaints was the same as the corporate sector.

After the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report, Sangeetha said that their struggle seems to have received more inspiration. The Kismath actress said that now the Kannada artists have submitted a petition to the state government that they need a committee. She said that this petition has the signatures of 153 dignitaries from other fields, including the Kannada cinema industry. In the petition, prominent artists and directors like actor Kichcha Sudeep, lyricist Kaviraj, and actors Nanda Kishore, Simple Suni, and Ramya have also signed.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a small group of women actors, worked with the Kerala government to institute a committee to study the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.