Samantha urges to ensure women safety in Telugu cinema following the Hema Committee Report in Malayalam Cinema
- IndiaGlitz, [Saturday,August 31 2024]
The Hema Committee Report, commissioned by the Kerala government, recently brought to light the pervasive issue of sexual harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The report has implicated several prominent actors and directors in Mollywood, leading to a major shakeup within the industry. In response to the allegations, the administrators of the Malayalam Actors' Association (AMMA) resigned, and the council was subsequently dissolved.
The fallout from the Hema Committee Report has prompted similar calls for action in other Indian film industries. Actor Vishal, General Secretary of the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes' Association), recently announced that a committee would be established to ensure the safety of women in Tamil cinema.
Following this, leading actress Samantha has requested the Telangana government to set up a similar committee for the Telugu film industry. She shared a statement by Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) on her Instagram stories, which has since gone viral. The statement expressed support for the Hema Committee Report and called for further action:
We, the women of the Telugu film industry, welcome the Hema Committee report and applaud the persistent efforts of the WCC in Kerala, which has laid the path to this moment.
Taking cue from the WCC, The Voice of Women, a support group for women in the TFI, was created in 2019.
We hereby urge the Telangana government to publish the submitted subcommittee report on sexual harassment, which can help frame government and industry policies, to establish a safe working environment for women in the TFI.
Samantha's call for action highlights the growing demand for systemic change across the Indian film industry, with increasing emphasis on creating a safe and respectful working environment for all women.