At the International Film Festival of India, veteran actor Suhasini raised serious concerns about the safety of women in the Malayalam film industry. She highlighted how the isolated nature of film shoots and the lack of strict rules during production create an unsafe environment for women. Suhasini explained that when large crews, sometimes hundreds of people, live together in remote locations for extended periods, professional boundaries often blur, increasing the risk of misconduct. She emphasized that this situation is more concerning in Mollywood than in other South Indian film industries, like Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinemas, where shoots are typically held in urban settings with clearer boundaries and respect for personal space.
Suhasini shared a personal example from her husband, director Mani Ratnam, who once banned a crew member from his set for misbehavior, demonstrating the importance of accountability in ensuring safety. Her remarks come after the release of the Hema Commission report, which exposed cases of sexual assault and harassment in the industry. The Kerala Women’s Commission has also supported the filing of FIRs based on the findings.
These comments follow the recent clearance of actor Nivin Pauly from rape charges, a case that had previously attracted significant attention. Pauly expressed gratitude to his supporters via social media.
