Kerala Directors' Union Launches 24-hour Toll-free Number For Female Artists

Directors’ Union FEFKA (Film Employees Federation of Kerala) has launched a toll-free number 8590599946 to report complaints to help female artists in the film industry. The 24-hour toll-free number services have commenced from September 25, Wednesday. The grievance redressal cell will be manned by female employees.

This step initiated by the FEFKA comes in the wake of the Hema committee report. This report highlights poor working conditions and constant sexual harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema. The problems faced by women in the film industry and their complaints can be reported on this toll-free number. If the complaint is serious, the organisation itself will take legal action. FEFKA said that the number will be active on Tuesday afternoon.

The Hema Committee was formed in response to a horrifying 2017 incident that sent shockwaves across Kerala. A well-known actress was kidnapped, assaulted, and recorded by a group of men who later tried to use the footage for blackmail. The involvement of a prominent male actor, accused of masterminding the assault to settle a personal grudge, added further shock.

This incident led to widespread outrage, prompting the state government to form a three-member committee, led by Justice Hema. Justice Hema is a retired Kerala High Court judge and her report has investigated sexual harassment and gender bias within the Malayalam film industry.

The Hema Committee Report has been met with deafening silence from many prominent male stars. Prominent names in Bollywood have also remained silent till now. Veteran Tamil actress Radhika Sarathkumar has talked to the BBC about this aspect. As per Radhika, “The harassment happens to each of us, how come men don’t know about it? Maybe the male actors compartmentalise, maybe they choose not to see it,” She told the BBC. “It’s very sad that every time the onus is on the women to protect themselves.”

Malayalam actors Siddique, Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Edavela Babu have been accused of sexual misconduct.