Malayalam actor Shammi Thilakan on Sunday reacted to the Hema committee report and mocked Mohanlal’s silence on the matter involving sexual misconduct allegations. The actor spoke to the media and highlighted that the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is silent on the serious issue even though two members of the association have been accused of sexual misconduct.

Shammi told the media that Mohanlal has “lost his ability to respond” after the allegations against several actors, producers and directors. He said that the culprits in the Malayalam film industry should be severely punished. He said, “Those who eat salt will drink water, no matter who it is.”

The actor, whose father, veteran actor Thilakan, was caught up in a clash with AMMA a few years ago, said the committee had mentioned a “power group” in its report, and many of those in the industry can identify members of that group. “I also live in fear. The term ‘power group’ was used by the Hema committee, and there is evidence of its existence in their report. We can identify who is part of that group based on this evidence,” he said.

Shammi spoke about the god-like status of certain actors and directors in the film industry, and highlighted that it was time to break these “idols. Idols that have shown betrayal must be pulled down.”

He also commented on Siddique’s resignation from the post of AMMA general secretary following rape allegations by an actor. The veteran actor on Monday denied all the allegations and lodged a complaint against the woman in a long letter to the Kerala police. “I don’t think Siddique’s resignation is poetic justice, but maybe my father felt that way,” Shammi said, pointing to his father’s old rift with AMMA.

Thilakan vs AMMA case

In February 2010, Thilakan announced that members of AMMA and MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association) had conspired against him and informally banned him from the industry after he spoke out against the industry leadership. Without naming anyone, he spoke about “a prominent person in Malayalam cinema” who had issued a directive against hiring him and other artistes, calling it a “prestige” issue. He criticised the man and alleged that he was responsible for ruining the careers of several experienced actors.

Meanwhile, the Hema Committee report has exposed cases of persistent sexual misconduct, casting couch and other appalling practices in the Malayalam film industry, where women at all levels and positions are targeted and attacked. The report has prompted several actors and junior artistes to speak out about their experiences.