Kumar Bahukhandi
Actor Mohanlal has praised the government for releasing the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. In his first public statement since the report’s release, Mohanlal welcomed the report and emphasised that while AMMA cannot address every question, those responsible for wrongdoing will be held accountable.
New Delhi: Actor Mohanlal on Saturday August 31 praised the government for releasing the Justice Hema Committee report, which addresses allegations of sexual harassment within the Malayalam film industry. The former president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA) made his remarks amid a surge of sexual assault and rape allegations involving prominent figures in Mollywood, including veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.
“We welcome the Hema Committee report. It was the right decision by the government to release that report. AMMA cannot answer all the questions. These questions should be asked from everyone. This is a very hardworking industry. Many people are involved in it. But everyone cannot be blamed for this. Those responsible will be punished, investigation is going on,” the actor said.
A massive row erupted after the 235-page report by the Justice Hema Committee was released after redacting the names of witnesses and accused, which revealed that the Malayalam film industry is dominated by 10-15 influential male producers, directors, and actors.
In response, Mohanlal stated that he is not part of any such power group and has no knowledge of its existence within the industry. He said that Malayalam cinema is a vast field with thousands of people involved, and acknowledged that the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) was unable to address the emerging issues effectively.
This is Mohanlal’s first public statement since the release of the report. The actor, known for his role in “Drishyam”, asserted that those who are found guilty of wrongdoing should face appropriate punishment.
Notably, he resigned from his position at AMMA amid the growing #MeToo movement, which saw several members of the association implicated in allegations of sexual misconduct. His resignation, along with that of other executive committee members, was met with criticism for failing to ensure justice for the victims.
In response to the allegations, AMMA’s top decision-making body took “moral responsibility” and disbanded itself.
