Sexual Abuse Scandal Escalates as More Allegations Emerge in Malayalam Film Industry

Thiruvananthapuram: The Malayalam film industry is grappling with a deepening crisis as more female actors come forward with allegations of harassment, sparked by the Justice K Hema Committee report. The report, which highlights widespread abuse in the industry, has led to new accusations, intensifying the already heated political and cultural climate in Kerala.

On Monday, actress Minu Muneer publicly accused several prominent figures, including actor-turned-MLA M Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu, of sexual abuse. Muneer detailed her experiences in a Facebook post, alleging she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a film in 2013. Despite the severity of the accusations, only Maniyanpilla Raju has responded, calling for an investigation into the charges.

In a separate incident, a junior artist accused actor Baburaj of sexual assault. Baburaj, who holds a position in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), has denied the allegations, suggesting they are an attempt to thwart his bid for the position of general secretary in the organization.

The accusations against Mukesh, who represents the Kollam constituency, have put the CPI(M)-led Kerala government under pressure. Opposition parties are accusing the Left government of shielding perpetrators, while protests have erupted, demanding Mukesh’s resignation and legal action against him.

This development follows the resignation of director Ranjith and actor Siddique from their leadership roles in state-run film bodies after similar allegations.

In response to the mounting crisis, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team to probe the allegations.