The 235-page report by the Justice K Hema Committee, which was made public on August 19, was shocking because it revealed 17 different ways that women are exploited in the Malayalam film industry, including casting couches, sexual favors, threats of rape, and other acts. Numerous actresses, including Ranjini, Parvathy, Tanushree Dutta and Revathy have expressed strong opinions against the report.
The report, according to Tanushree Dutta, who spearheaded the #MeToo movement in 2018 when she accused Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct on the sets of the movie ‘Horn Ok Pleasss’, was “useless”.
“I don’t comprehend these reports and committees. They seem pointless to me. They didn’t release a report on what transpired in 2017 for seven years?” Tanushree informed the media.
She went on, saying, “What’s the aim of this new report anyway? With reference to the Vishakha committee? All they needed to do was put a robust law and order mechanism in place and arrest the culprits. The Vishakha Committee produced numerous rules and numerous pages of findings, as I recall hearing about, but what transpired after that?”
“Narcissistic psychopaths like Nana and Dileep are what they are. They have no known treatment. What they did could only be done by a ferocious and spiteful guy. I have no interest in these panels. I don’t think this system is reliable. Instead of completing the actual work, it seems like these committees and reports are just wasting our time. A woman’s right to a safe workplace is a fundamental human right,” she said, adding that it applies to all people.
Following the publication of the study, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the government is attempting to pass legislation to guarantee women’s protection. Tanushree responded to that by saying, “This is all just talk.” Something has to be done. Who even keeps up with all of this paperwork? A thorough movie legislation may be enacted, but lawbreakers will still do what they want. All these predators have mental illnesses. Even though they are insane, they are able to find solace in the company of other deranged and insane individuals.”
Tanushree said, “That’s the weirdest thing,” in response to a query about Dileep continuing to receive opportunities in spite of the accusations. There isn’t any empathy. Male performers have prejudices against actresses. They consider women to be second-class citizens, demeaning them. It’s expected of you to keep quiet, act in a specific manner, refrain from speaking excessively, and not voice any complaints. In the event of a catastrophic event, we should accept it as part of life and not let it bother us too much.”
“People view actresses as morally reprehensible entities—which is a very primitive perception—who don’t deserve to be treated with dignity,”Tanushree continued.
“While we don’t demand to be treated like royalty, we do have the right to protest and to be treated with respect. They turn you into a bothersome person by using their macho ego.”
