‘I felt unsafe…’: Actress Shraddha Srinath expresses concern over Hema Committee report

Trigger warning: This particular article contains information about sexual assault that may be triggering for some readers.

The South film industry, especially the Malayalam industry, has been under fire since the recent release of the Hema Committee report. In a new turn of events, Kannada actress Shraddha Srinath commented on the matter and stressed the need for setting up more structured bodies to help fight systematic abuse. Shraddha, who was a guest at the Indian Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit, said that though she never felt unsafe while working on film sets, she highlighted the need for proper sanitation facilities for women on film sets.

Shraddha said, “I felt safe. I have felt unsafe outside my workplace, like while returning home from a party or constantly wondering where my driver is looking. And I have felt like that since I was eight years old. I have been fortunate that I have not faced anything in the industry. That doesn’t mean that other people are not struggling.”

Further, the actress admitted that things get even more difficult when women who have gone through bad experiences don’t know who to open up to. “We need a structured body that keeps an eye on this (harassment). Even small changes will help. Something as simple as women wearing sarees or hairstylists not having proper toilets on sets. Such basic changes will help. People should listen to it and be a part of the conversation,” Shraddha said.

For those who don’t know, the Hema Committee report came to light after it was publicly released on August 19 this year. The report noted widespread exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. Apart from this, the Hema Committee report also revealed cases of sexual harassment, casting couch and male-dominated power structure in the film industry, among other issues.

Several prominent personalities such as Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and VK Prakash, and production executives Vichu, Baburaj and director Thulasidas have come under the scanner following the release of the Hema committee report.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know has been emotionally, physically, or verbally abused, don’t hesitate to ask for help. You are not alone in this battle, and there are many helplines you can call.