Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Forms Special Team to Investigate Sexual Abuse in Malayalam Film Industry
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 25: The Kerala government has decided to create a special investigation team to look into allegations of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry. This decision follows recent interviews and statements from several women in the industry detailing the hardships they have faced.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a meeting with senior police officials and decided to form the team, which will be led by IGP G Sparjan Kumar. The team will include senior women police officers and will operate under the supervision of Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh.
The members of the special team are:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| IGP | G Sparjan Kumar |
| DIG | S Ajeetha Beegum |
| SP Crime Branch HQ | Merin Joseph |
| AIG Coastal Police | G Poonkuzhali |
| Assistant Director of Kerala Police Academy | Aishwarya Dongre |
| AIG Law & Order | Ajith V |
| SP Crime Branch | S. Madhusoodanan |
This action comes after the release of the Hema Committee Report, which revealed numerous instances of sexual abuse in the film industry. Many women have come forward with their experiences of harassment. The report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals, highlights the existence of the ‘casting couch’ practice and poor working conditions for women.
Renowned filmmaker Ranjith resigned as Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman following sexual assault allegations by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra. The Justice Hema Committee report also notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by a small group of male producers, directors, and actors who dominate the industry.
The report reveals that women are often asked to make ‘adjustments’ and ‘compromises’ to secure roles, and are denied basic human rights such as access to toilets and changing rooms on sets.
Doubts Revealed
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state.
Pinarayi Vijayan -: Pinarayi Vijayan is the current Chief Minister of Kerala. He is a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Special Team -: A special team is a group of people chosen to do a specific task. In this case, the task is to investigate sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.
Sexual Abuse -: Sexual abuse means hurting someone in a sexual way without their permission. It is a very serious crime.
Malayalam Film Industry -: The Malayalam film industry is the part of Indian cinema that makes movies in the Malayalam language, which is spoken in Kerala.
Hema Committee Report -: The Hema Committee Report is a document that investigated and reported on issues of harassment in the Malayalam film industry.
IGP G Sparjan Kumar -: IGP stands for Inspector General of Police. G Sparjan Kumar is a senior police officer leading the special investigation team.
Ranjith -: Ranjith is a well-known filmmaker in the Malayalam film industry. He resigned from his position after being accused of sexual misconduct.
Kerala Chalachitra Academy -: The Kerala Chalachitra Academy is an organization that promotes Malayalam cinema. It organizes film festivals and other events.
Sexual Misconduct -: Sexual misconduct refers to inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature. It can include actions like harassment or abuse.
Dominance -: Dominance means having control or power over others. In this context, it refers to a small group of men having control in the film industry.
Working Conditions -: Working conditions refer to the environment and terms under which people work. Poor working conditions mean the environment is not safe or fair for workers.
