Chinmayi emphasized the hardships survivors encounter in pursuing justice, such as loss of livelihood and the difficulty of proving sexual offenses.
Renowned singer Chinmayi Sripaada, a prominent figure in India’s “MeToo” movement, voiced her hope that the Hema Committee Report, which exposes the dark side of Kerala’s film industry, will inspire more female survivors of sexual violence to come forward. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, she stated, “Siddique and Ranjith, who have resigned, are not the only ones in Kerala’s film industry facing allegations of sexual misconduct.”
The Justice Hema Committee report, which details extensive sexual abuse, systemic harassment, and a “criminal nexus” within Mollywood, has triggered a wave of new complaints against senior artists and directors. Following the report’s release, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique resigned from their roles in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) amid allegations of misconduct.
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On Monday, a junior artiste in the Malayalam film industry accused award-winning actor and director Baburaj of rape. Baburaj, who serves as the Joint Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), has denied any wrongdoing.
Chinmayi highlighted the significant challenges survivors face in seeking justice, including the loss of livelihood and the difficulty in proving sexual offenses. She emphasized the need for a swift and sensitive justice system, drawing from her own experience of being banned from dubbing and suffering a setback in her singing career after accusing lyricist Vairamuthu and actor Radha Ravi of molestation.
She explained how the system makes it hard for survivors to file police complaints, recounting her own experience of being molested years ago, the stigma surrounding police stations at the time, and the lengthy trial process.
Chinmayi praised Kerala actors who have spoken out against sexual abuse and expressed hope that others in the industry would follow their lead.
When asked why many women do not come forward to file police complaints, she responded, “Most of the evidence is circumstantial. Even bruises heal in a few days.”
“We need a swift, sensitive legal system from the start. We can’t always wear body cams. Violations like molestation happen in an instant,” she added.
She pointed out that the ICC system, intended to speed up the process, has not been effective, and emphasized that there were high expectations from the National Commission for Women.
She stated that both the political class and the film industry continue to associate with individuals facing “MeToo” allegations. “Politicians support men accused of sexual harassment because they represent vote banks,” she added.