Cinema VinesA new book by former Kerala State Information Commissioner Dr A Abdul Hakeem is set to hit shelves in the coming weeks, with DC Books slated to publish the volume titled Malayala Cinema, Hema Committee Paranjathum Sarkkar Parayathathum. The release follows the publication of the Hema Committee report, a comprehensive investigation into alleged misconduct within the Malayalam film industry. Hakeem, who was tasked with ordering the report’s release, has reportedly included fresh details that could shed further light on the findings.
According to an exclusive piece by Reporter Live on October 6, the forthcoming book will contain a series of accounts from women in the industry who claim to have suffered harassment, intimidation, and inappropriate behaviour on set. The stories, which remain unnamed in the article, cover a range of incidents from threats of career sabotage to physical assault, all allegedly carried out by prominent actors and other film professionals.
One narrative detailed in the report involves an actress who allegedly faced retaliation after refusing to comply with a well‑known actor’s demands. The actor, reportedly arriving on set intoxicated, allegedly threatened that the actress would be unable to secure future work in cinema. The actress claimed the actor leveraged his influence to exclude her from a gathering of former leading ladies, ultimately leading her to quit acting altogether. She also alleged that the actor organised a separate event for actresses who had previously worked with him, further isolating her from the industry.
Another disturbing account describes an actress who reportedly endured repeated sexual advances from a prominent actor during a film shoot. After refusing, she allegedly suffered a physical assault that required extensive Ayurvedic treatment. The book also mentions an incident involving a stunt master and an actress who was hospitalised after being deliberately forced to fall during a stunt. The actress claimed she faced ongoing unwanted attention from the stunt master, and a production executive reportedly insisted she return to shooting later in the afternoon despite her condition.
None of the individuals involved in these allegations have been named in the current reporting, and the claims remain unverified until the book’s release. Hakeem’s forthcoming work promises to provide a more detailed examination of the Hema Committee’s findings, potentially exposing a broader pattern of abuse within Mollywood. The industry and its stakeholders are watching closely as the publication date approaches, with many hoping the book will spark meaningful change and accountability in the Malayalam film community.
