My way or the Highway: Reactions and heightened drama post Hema Committee Report

After much speculation, outrage, and indecisiveness, a sanitised Hema Committee Report is public. The Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala State government following WCC's petition in response to the 2017 actress assault case. Headed by retired Kerala High Court Judge, Justice Hema, the report submitted in 2019, addresses issues faced by women in cinema, including poor work conditions, remuneration, sexual abuse, lack of opportunities, as well as the absence of maternity leave. 

The state government was slammed for the long delay by the WCC members and other quarters, with many suspecting that the holdup was intentional to shield influential individuals. As a film scribe, the Hema Committee Report confirmed everything I have heard about the film industry—from credible sources within the industry to whispers from outsiders. The inner workings were both shocking and validating, like a Chinese whisper that’s finally been verified.

And then started the Media circus

And of course, the media has once again donned the judge’s cape, relentlessly pursuing sensational aspects of the report to grab eyeballs. While exposing abuse is vital, their focus on explicit details has overshadowed the report’s true intent. We are now witnessing a salacious spectacle in a frenzied pursuit of ratings. Every single news channel competes with each other to bring out the sleaziest bit in public. So there are prime-time discussions featuring the regular suspects who are all shouting at each other with the sole intention of amplifying unnecessary drama rather than evoking anything meaningful or insightful. Again, it only ends up obscuring the real issue.

What’s also disconcerting is to watch television news journalists abandon their core duty of objective reporting, assume the role of self-righteous judges, and adopt a condescending tone. A senior news anchor’s questioning of a survivor who accused Director Ranjith of sexual abuse took an inappropriate turn when he asked him if he was queer, clearly making assumptions based on stereotypical imageries associated with the LGBTQ+ community. Not only was it intrusive but also irrelevant to the allegations. Another news anchor, while speaking to actor Siddique, accused of rape, started the conversation almost empathetically, referencing their familiarity, which can be seen as name-dropping and comes across as unprofessional in such a scenario. Similarly, during a heated argument with an actor, a news anchor was seen dismissing the actor’s perspective on pay parity without getting into the complexities of the issue. It shows his superficial and crowd-pleasing approach, as is the norm these days.  

Social media and the like

If media houses are increasingly taking the role of a courtroom, social media spectators sit back, grab popcorn, and revel in the drama, often snickering, outraging, and abusing. Given the predominantly male user base, one can assume that such news appeals to their voyeuristic tendencies. It is also ironic that they are venting their shock through profanities and sexist slurs. Yesterday a young man accused Director Ranjith of sexual abuse; though many expressed indignation, unfortunately, their comments also showed a disturbing level of homophobia. Then there are the superstar/actor fanboys who would give their eye teeth for their star's goodwill. So they turn their ire on WCC members and wait for some missteps from them to turn the situation in their favour (thereby revealing their patriarchal biases).  

Though the memes and trolls circulating on YouTube are meant to call out the perpetrators, they often perpetuate a troubling undercurrent of misogyny, thus defeating its intent. 

Having said that, ironically, the only positive aspect of social media is also its democratic space. Considering that 67.5% of India’s internet users access social media as of January 2023, this platform also helps in witnessing the societal changes that have evolved with time. The rising acceptance of Parvathy Thiruvothu on social media, considering the cyberbullying she had to endure in 2017, is reassuring. Sure, the naysayers are still around, but they are fewer in numbers. Parvathy has silently and surely fought her way back, emerging with a voice that now commands attention, respect, and credibility. It also points towards a more inclusive space for women on social media. Even WCC, which was earlier berated, has received a better reception following the Hema Committee report.

The silence of superstars and celebration of the bare minimum

Understandably, both media and social media are vocal about the deafening silence of Mammootty and Mohanlal in this issue. That’s another aspect of social media—it has normalised fame and scrutiny and makes it easier for the public to hold celebrities and public figures accountable for their actions. The superstars were silent in 2017, and they seem to be in no mood to break their silence in 2024, and it’s disheartening to witness it. It is easier to understand why, as they too have played a role in enabling and sustaining this problematic system, alongside those who directly profit from it. Since our bar is so low when it comes to actors taking a stand on such issues, we tend to amplify those who indulge in superficial activism. That’s precisely why Prithviraj Sukumaran was applauded on social media for making the “right noises."

At the press conference to launch his new football team logo, the actor, who is also an ace marketing brain, came fully prepared to face the media’s questions on the Hema Committee Report.  He knew this was the right opportunity to gain brownie points considering his seniors had chickened out. And he played the cards well, giving replies that were coated with the right measure of concern and indignation. Because of his eloquence, people forgot that in the past his words have often failed to align with his actions. The actor had said that he would make sure the places he worked would be safe for women, and the next day a woman alleged that she was sexually abused by an associate on the sets of Bro Daddy. But the blame can also be also on our conditioned patriarchy that seeks validation from men over women’s rights.

In truth, the most authentic response came from veteran Jagadish, who had the grace to apologise to the media for the delayed response from A.M.M.A. as well as accept that the Hema Report should have been released earlier. He also felt the names of the perpetrators should be revealed and welcomed such a report. The media has already derailed the original intent and purpose of the Hema Committee Report through their ham-fisted reporting. Hope better sense will prevail soon.