KOCHI: The tsunami that hit the Malayalam film industry after the release of the Hema Committee report continued to wreak havoc with big names such as filmmaker V K Prakash, actor-producer Maniyanpilla Raju and actors Jayasurya, Edavela Babu coming under the sexual harassment allegations on Monday.
A day after filmmaker Ranjith and actor Siddique resigned as Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman and AMMA general secretary posts following sexual harassment charges, senior actor Geetha Vijayan, artist Minu Muneer and a junior artist went public to narrate the traumatic experiences they encountered from stars like Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, to actor-producers Maniyanpilla Raju, Baburaj as well as filmmakers Thulasidas and V K Prakash.
Perhaps one of the big names to figure in the sexual harassment allegation on Monday was Jayasurya. Minu Muneer, who acted in a slew of Malayalam movies in the 2010s, said the actor hugged and kissed her forcefully in the sets of a 2013 movie. “Without my consent, hugged me from behind and when I turned around, he kissed me on my lips. I was frightened and ran away,” she said.
In her Facebook post, Mini also made allegations against a series of incidents of physical and verbal abuse she had to suffer from actors Mukesh, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Jayasurya, as well as other technicians.
“In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these people while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working. However, when the abuse became unbearable, I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai. I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against their heinous actions,” she wrote in the post.
Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
