In 2017, a popular Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of goons, led by a criminal named Pulsar Suni who had ties with several celebs in Malayalam Film Industry. During the police investigations, it was alleged that actor-producer Dileep had orchestrated the kidnapping over a grudge he held against the actress. As the incident revealed the rot within the working of the film industry, the Kerala High Court advised the Kerala government to set up a three-member committee, led by Justice Hema and consisting of actress Sharada and IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, to interview other victims of power dynamics and sexual harassment within the industry. WCC (Women in Cinema Collective) - an organisation serving to empower female artists and crew members in Malayalam Cinema, which was founded after the 2017 sexual assault crime - played a crucial role in giving key insights to the report. Hema Committee Report: Kerala Assembly LoP VD Satheesan Demands Investigation Into Shocking Allegations About Malayalam Film Industry.

Seven years later and after much dilly-dallying from the CPI(M)-led ruling government of Kerala, the Kerala High Court had to intervene for the findings of the Hema Committee (or Hema Committee report) to be disclosed to the public. There was a catch, though. The order asked for names to be omitted from the report, which led to heavy speculations and conjecture from the media and the fans.

However, as Kerala was reeling from what they had read from the Hema Committee report, several alleged victims - emboldened by the impact of the report on media - have come forward with fresh or renewed accusations against some prominent Malayalam movie celebs and naming them out. Nearly every day, we have seen an actor or a filmmaker being accused of sexual harassment, or in some cases, even rape and it is shocking to see some of the beloved celebrities allegedly being exposed as perverts. Including some late actors.

In the below list, we have mentioned every actor who has been named by the alleged victims of sexual harassment, assault and casting couch since the 233-page Hema Committee report was revealed on August 19, 2024.

Malayalam Celebs Accused Under #MeToo:

1. Siddique - Actor, Producer, Former AMMA General Secretary. Accused by actress Revathy Sampath

2. Mukesh - Actor, Producer, MP. Faces multiple accusations of sexual harassment, including from Kodeeswaran crew member and also actress Minu Muneer. Jayasurya ‘Forcibly Kissed Me’: Minu Muneer Accuses Malayalam Actor of Sexual Harassment; Alleges Mukesh Asked Sexual Favours in Exchange for AMMA Membership.

3. Riyaz Khan - Actor. Accused of lewd phones by actress Revathy Sampath

4. Ranjith - Director, Actor. Accused of casting couch behaviour by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra

5. Sudheesh - Actor. Accused of sexual harassment by actress Jubitha

6. Edavela Babu - Actor, General Secretary of AMMA. Multiple accusations of sexual harassment and blackmail from Jubitha, Minu Muneer et al.

7. Mamukkoya - Actor (Deceased). Accused of lewd behaviour by actress Jubitha

8. Jayasurya - Actor, Producer. Accused of sexual harassment by actress Minu Muneer.

Minu Muneer Accusing Jayasurya and Mukesh of Sexual Harassment:

9. Thulasidas - Director. Accused of sexual harassment by actresses Geetha Vijayan and Sridevika. Thulasidas ‘Knocked on My Hotel Door at Night’: Geetha Vijayan Claims Malayalam Director Harassed Her During 1991 Film Shoot; She Hit Him Hard in Response.

10. VK Prakash - Director. Accused of sexual harassment by unnamed screenwriter

11. Maniyanpilla Raju - Actor, Producer. Accused of sexual harassment by actress Minu Muneer

12. Baburaj - Actor, Director. Accused of sexual assault by an unnamed junior artist

13. Shine Tom Chacko - Actor. The artist who accused Baburaj also claimed that people allegedly close to Shine had contacted her for 'meetings'.

14. RS Vimal - His former maid has alleged that he dropped sexual insinuations of 'adjustments' when she was working with him. ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ Director RS Vimal Accused of Lewd Behaviour by His Former Maid Amid Hema Committee Report.

15. Sajin Baabu - Director. Biriyaani filmmaker has been accused of sexual abuse by two unnamed women. The director accepted his crime to a news portal.

We will update the above list as and when new allegations are reported. While every allegation needs to be listened to and the victims need to be supported, we also need to let the law and order system of the country take its due course on these allegations, instead of being the judge, jury and executioner. That said, this is certainly a watershed movement for Malayalam Cinema, and we hope the film industry cleanses itself of the bad elements and rises above as a phoenix.

Women and Child Helpline Numbers:

India – 1098; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline –112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women/ Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/ 1291; Missing Child and Women – 1094.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2024 12:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).