The Malayalam film industry, already reeling from the Hema Committee Report's explosive findings on the harassment and abuse of women professionals, faced fresh allegations on Monday as multiple victims came forward with accusations against several prominent actors and directors. Among those accused are actors Jayasurya, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Baburaj and Shine Tom Chacko, as well as directors V A Shrikumar, Thulasidas, and V K Prakash.
Minu Kurian, a woman actor, leveled serious accusations against Jayasurya, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu, citing various instances of misconduct. She alleged that both Jayasurya and Mukesh had physically abused her. According to Minu, Jayasurya not only made inappropriate comments but also retaliated against her by denying her work opportunities after she resisted his advances. She further claimed that Jayasurya's behavior escalated to physical abuse during the filming of De Ingottu Nokkiye (2008), where he allegedly grabbed her from behind. Additionally, she accused Mukesh of assaulting her during the shoot of Calendar (2009) and of interfering with her application for membership in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) as a form of retaliation. Kurian also claimed that Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu engaged in inappropriate sexual conversations with her. She has expressed her intent to file a formal complaint with a government-appointed investigation team. Actress Gayathri Varsha has publicly supported Minu, confirming that Kurian had previously confided in her about the troubling incidents.
While Mukesh has yet to respond to the allegations, Maniyanpilla Raju has called for an investigation into the issues plaguing the Malayalam film industry.
A junior artist, who has chosen to remain anonymous, accused Baburaj, V A Shrikumar and Shine Tom Chacko of misconduct. She alleged that Baburaj lured her to his house in Aluva in 2019 under the pretext of offering her a role in a movie, only to find herself alone with him. She claimed that Baburaj then sexually abused her. The junior artist also alleged that many women have fallen victim to Baburaj's advances but have remained silent out of fear. Additionally, she accused Odiyan (2018) director Shrikumar of molesting her at a hotel in Kochi, stating that he treated her cruelly and sexually assaulted her after luring her to the hotel with promises of a role in an advertisement film. She revealed that she did not file a complaint as she had moved out of the country after getting married but indicated her willingness to provide a confidential statement if approached by the investigation team. The actress also mentioned being contacted by individuals claiming to represent Shine, who attempted to facilitate meetings with him under the pretense of offering roles.
In response to the allegations, Baburaj denied the claims, asserting that he had not lived in Aluva during the time of the alleged incident and had been residing in Munnar from 2015 to 2020. He stated that he planned to pursue legal action. Shrikumar has yet to comment on the accusations.
Director Thulasidas faced accusations from two actors, Geetha Vijayan and Sreedevika. Geetha recounted her unpleasant experiences during the filming of the 1991 movie Chanchattam, where she alleged that Thulasidas behaved inappropriately towards her by knocking on her door and calling her room phone, though she noted that no physical harm occurred. Geetha stated that if an inquiry committee approached her, she would disclose more details. Actor Sreedevika claimed that the director persistently knocked on her door late at night while she was on the set of the 2006 film Avan Chandiyude Makan. Concerned for her safety, her mother reported the issue to another actor, who helped them relocate to a different room. Sreedevika also alleged that AMMA failed to respond to her complaint despite her bringing it to their attention in 2018.
V K Prakash was accused by a young female writer, who claimed that the director had misbehaved with her during a meeting at a hotel in Kollam. She recounted how Prakash, under the pretext of discussing her story, visited her room, offered her drinks, and then attempted to kiss her and force her onto the bed. When she resisted, he questioned her decision to decline his advances.
These allegations mark what appears to be the beginning of the Malayalam film industry’s #MeToo moment. They surfaced a day after director Ranjith and actor Siddique resigned from their leadership roles in a state-run film academy and AMMA, respectively, following sexual abuse allegations against them.
In light of mounting pressure on the government to take action against alleged predators in the film industry, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting with senior police officials on Sunday and announced the formation of a seven-member special team to investigate the atrocities faced by women actors.
The Justice Hema Committee, established by the Kerala government in the wake of the 2017 actress assault case, has already highlighted instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompting widespread calls for action against the perpetrators.