Sports Desk:

The film industry in the southern Indian state of Kerala has been rocked by a storm over the findings of a judicial committee and the filing of several sexual misconduct allegations against many male artistes.

The committee’s report, made public on August 19, finally led to the collapse of the Kerala film industry body Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) as all its 16 other office bearers, including its president and Malayalam cinema superstar Mohanlal, stepped down.

Deepening the turmoil, some other prominent figures of the Malayalam film industry have also quit key positions. Director Ranjith stepped down as the head of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy following allegations of misconduct brought forth by a Bengali actress.

The committee’s report has revealed rampant sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry as several actors have come forward to narrate instances of alleged sexual abuse that they suffered at the hands of their industry colleagues.

Some top AMMA office-bearers themselves are under the scanner for sexual abuse. Founded in 1994, AMMA currently has 498 members, including 245 women.

AMMA’s executive committee released a statement confirming the mass resignation “in light of moral obligations”.

The judicial panel, set up to probe the struggles of women in Mollywood, as the Kerala cinema industry is called, brought to the fore instances of sexual harassment and gender inequality. The report detailed the discrimination and challenges that women in the Malayalam film industry endure, including the existence of a casting couch. The findings triggered widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

The fallout from the Hema Committee report continues to buffet the Malayalam film industry with a number of female actors coming forward to share their harrowing experiences.