There are a total of 17 ongoing lawsuits involving Kerala actors and filmmakers including Siddique and Ranjith Balakrishnan. Sreelekha Mitra, a Bengali actress, has alleged that Ranjith Balakrishnan molested her.
The recent release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which shed light on the #MeToo scandal in the Malayalam film industry, has triggered initial political aftershocks. Mukesh, a notable actor as well as an MLA representing the CPI(M), has been chucked out from his duty on a governmental committee that oversees and shapes regulations associated with the cinema industry.
Minu Muneer brings forth a grave allegation of sexual misconduct against Mukesh, recounting an unpleasant incident from a movie set in 2013 involving both him and Jayasurya. Muneer asserts that Mukesh made inappropriate advances when she sought out his guidance on becoming a member of the actors’ association, AMMA.
During a candid interaction, she told NDTV, “There is a lot of exploitation in this industry. I am a witness and victim. When I moved to Chennai, nobody reached out to me, asking me what had happened…” On Tuesday, a Facebook post saw Mukesh vehemently denying the claims made against him. Emphasising the need for a comprehensive inquiry, he urged to unearth the true specifics of the publicly floating allegations. Mukesh noted that his first communication with Ms. Muneer dates back to 2009, and they again interacted this year, with her demanding at least Rs 1 lakh. Later on, her husband approached him, asking for a hefty amount.
He stood his ground, refusing to succumb to intimidation and insisting on the importance of uncovering the truth. He also showed willingness to submit to any investigations into charges levelled against movie makers, even if it meant examining his own conduct. Amid a flurry of allegations, yesterday we saw Mohanlal, a veteran in acting, resign as the leader of AMMA. The entire executive committee of the organisation also quit shouldering the blame for the current situation.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, despite being scrutinized by the opposing BJP and Congress-led United Democratic Front, has set up a seven-member team – a Special Investigation Team, or SIT, to rigorously investigate all claims of sexual assault.
Minu Muneer further reported to the media portal, “Everyone knows about it (the sexual abuse and exploitation of women). It’s not new… in this industry, it is rampant. The problem is it has been normalised.”
