Now, Kannada film forum bats for Hema panel-like body

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Just day after the explosive Justice Hema Committee report set the course for a 'cleansing effort in the Kerala film industry, popularly called Molllywood, a section of actors, writers and directors have demanded the formation of a similar panel to look into issues fcaed by women in the Kannada film industry, popularly called ‘Sandalwood'.

The Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE) urged the Siddaramaiah government to form a committee under the stewardship of a retired judge to “address similar concerns” in the Kannada film industry.

“While FIRE has been instrumental in establishing India’s first-ever film industry Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the Kannada Film Industry and advocating for survivors of sexual harassment (2017-present), we recognise that more comprehensive measures are needed to create a safe and equitable working environment for all women in the industry,” the forum said, reports The Print.

The letter was signed by 153 actors, producers, writers, aca - demics and even advocates and others from the film fraternity, including FIRE president Kavita Lankesh, Ramya (Divya Spandana), Shruthi Hariharan, and counsel Jayna Kothari.

The demand comes close on the heels of the Hema Committee report exposing horrors of sexual harassment, violation and the existence of a ‘power group’, who purportedly exploited women with either promise of reward, blackmail, or just survival.

There have been similar demands from the Telugu film industry. “It (exploitation) happens here. We all know it happens. Some are large, and some minor. The large incident is when the women are forced to quit and go away. Minor incidents, women just take it as part of life and move on,” actor Malvika Avinash, also a BJP leader, said.

Kannada cinema is among one of India’s biggest film industries and with big-blockbusters like ‘K.G.F’ and ‘Kantara’ doing well, it has also attracted talent from other parts of the country.

‘The Kannada film industry has been through its share of turmoil, especially after one of its biggest stars, Darshan, was accused of murder.

Darshan and his associates are accused of murdering 32-year-old Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent lewd messages to the actor’s partner. Allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, power groups and assault are not new to the Kannada film industry.

In 2011, the Kannada Film Producers Association (KFPA) ‘banned’ actor Nikita Thukral, suspected to have had an affair with Darshan, after his wife made a complaint. Even at the peak of the #MeToo movement, several Kannada actors came forward to highlight the exploitative nature of the industry.