After the Hema Committee report, the Kerala government’s culture minister announced big measures for women in the Malayalam film industry.
After the revelation of the Hema Committee report, numerous cases of sexual harassment and abuse of power have emerged in the Malayalam film industry. Prominent figures in the Malayalam entertainment industry have been accused of misconduct by various actresses. In response, the Kerala government has pledged to introduce new safety measures to protect women working in the industry. Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian announced plans to make the Malayalam film and television industry fully women-friendly, with comprehensive legal and policy reforms on the horizon.
Kerala Govt takes proactive measures for women’s safety
The minister spoke to attendees during the inauguration of the Sakhi Dormitory at Sri Theater in Thiruvananthapuram. This new dormitory, a project by the State Film Development Corporation, is designed to provide secure and comfortable accommodation for women working at the Kairali, Sri, and Nila Theater Complexes in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Kerala government is taking proactive steps to tackle challenges faced by women in various fields. Beyond establishing women-friendly workplaces, there are concerted efforts to empower women within the film industry. During this time, the Film Development Corporation has provided financial support for the release of five films. Additionally, the department runs training programs aimed at encouraging more women to pursue technical roles in cinema.
The state government is focused on developing essential technical infrastructure in Kerala, including for foreign language films. This initiative involves upgrading Chitranjali Studio and setting up a state-of-the-art studio in Kochi. The Minister highlighted the goal of establishing Kerala as a premier destination for global cinema tourism.
Saji Cherian argued that the Kerala High Court did not criticize the ruling Left government in connection with the Hema Committee report. He dismissed such reports as “political drama,” claiming that some media outlets had fabricated the allegations. Cherian asserted that the High Court’s involvement was confined to questioning the state government’s actions in response to the report, rather than offering any critique or judgment of the government itself.
