The Kerala Film Employees Federation said that the names of those who commit sexual abuse need to be made public and that any of its members who do so risk facing legal action.
Hema Committee Report: Following the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), another film organization, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), is currently under investigation due to the fallout from the explosive Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed numerous illicit activities in the Malayalam film industry, particularly against women.
The FEFKA, a conglomerate of 21 labour unions representing everything from drivers to lamp boys to directors, remained silent following the publication of the Hema Committee findings. The film body encouraged its members on Wednesday to refrain from ’emotional and immature reactions’ to the Justice Hema Committee report, which surfaced days after it exposed sexual assault, a casting couch, and appalling working conditions in the Malayalam film industry.
It was also surprising that B. Unnikrishnan, the always vocal general secretary, remained silent. However, after the FEFKA issued a statement on Wednesday requesting the identities of all those involved.
In the statement, he said that the names of all who misbehaved have to come out. “Now that the entire AMMA committee has resigned and it can be seen as a cleansing process. Since the matter is sub-judice, it’s improper to speak on it. We are going to have a three-day meeting starting September 2nd where we will discuss the Hema report threadbare,” said Unnikrishnan.
Following the general secretary’s remarks, a controversy swiftly sprang up, with renowned actor and director Ashiq Abu condemning Unnikrishnan. In his strong reaction, Abu said, “The need of the hour was not a statement from the FEFKA but they should have come out in the open and spoken to the media, instead of like being in hiding.”
Attacking the General Secretary, he added, “It has now come to the stage that Unnikrishnan is FEFKA and FEFKA is Unnikrishnan, but that’s not the case. Unnikrishnan is a fake leftist and he should be removed as a member of the proposed committee formed to draft a new Cinema Bill as all what he says is not the FEFKA version but only his.”
It is unclear what will happen as a result of the growing divisions within the FEFKA and the open questioning of Unnikrishnan’s leadership. Unnikrishnan is a close associate of Mohanlal, the President of the AMMA, who resigned on Tuesday, just months after taking office for a third three-year term, along with the entire executive team. They came under a cloud following revelations of being sexually harassed or exploited by various female actors.
AMMA’s leadership transition is reportedly being discussed, and a well-known actress is reportedly being sought for the position of either general secretary or president.
(With IANS inputs)