Malayalam film industry reeling under sexual harassment allegations

Scandal has led to dissolution of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists

Allegations follow the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report

The Malayalam film industry is reeling under the impact of multiple sexual harassment allegations, with 17 cases registered so far. The scandal, which has led to the dissolution of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), continues to unfold, with several prominent film stars and filmmakers expected to be questioned.

The most recent complaint was lodged by actor Sonia Malhaar, who accused a fellow actor of molesting her on a film set in 2013. Malhaar has filed her complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Kerala government to investigate the ‘#MeToo’ cases within the industry. She has requested the media not to associate actor Jayasurya with her allegations.

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Actor Minu Muneer, who had earlier accused actors M Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of harassment, reported receiving threats after speaking out. Muneer shared a screenshot of a threatening message on social media, prompting the SIT to plan recording her statement.

Muneer recounted her ordeal to NDTV, alleging inappropriate behavior by several actors, including Jayasurya and former AMMA secretary Idavela Babu. She also claimed that MLA Mukesh denied her AMMA membership after she rejected his advances. Mukesh has denied the allegations, calling for a thorough investigation and accusing Muneer of blackmail.

The flood of allegations follows the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlights systemic exploitation in the industry, largely controlled by a few powerful men. Amidst the growing controversy, AMMA has dissolved itself, with prominent actor Mohanlal stepping down as its president.