Actress Swara Bhaskar reflected on the findings of the Hema Committee and highlighted the patriarchal norms and financial pressures that are deeply ingrained in the entertainment industry. She also expressed her deep gratitude and support to the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Praising their courageous efforts, she acknowledged their role in bringing to light the issues of sexual harassment and violence within the industry.

Reacting to the recent Hema Committee report which highlighted Sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industryThe actress shared a long note on Instagram and wrote that she was ‘heartbroken’ after reading the committee’s findings.

Part of her statement read, “It is heartbreaking to read the committee’s findings. It is even more so because it is so familiar. Perhaps not every detail and every nuance, but the big picture of what the women testified to is so familiar.”

Further, she discussed how the entertainment industry has always been male-centric. “Showbiz has always been a male-centric industry, a patriarchal power system. It is also very sensitive to perception and very risk-averse. Every day of production – shooting days but also pre and post-production days – are days when the meter is running and money is being spent. No one likes disruption. Even if the disruptor has raised their voice for what is morally right. It is much more convenient and financially viable to just keep moving forward,” she wrote.

Take a look at the post here:

The ‘Veere Di Wedding’ actress reflected on the wider dynamics within the entertainment industry and the deeply ingrained feudal nature of showbiz. She explained how the hierarchical structure of the industry, where top celebrities are treated like demi-gods, gives rise to a culture of silence and collusion.

He wrote, “Showbiz is not just patriarchal, it is feudal in character. Successful actors, directors and producers are elevated to the status of demigods and whatever they do is accepted. If they do something untoward, it is common for everyone around to look away. If someone makes too much noise and doesn’t let an issue drop, label him a ‘troublemaker’ and let him suffer the consequences of his overzealous discretion. Silence is tradition. Silence is appreciated. Silence is practical and silence is rewarded.”

“The Hema Committee report details the experiences of women in the Malayalam film industry, but that is only because the horrific case of sexual harassment of an actress, allegedly by superstar Dileep, opened Pandora’s box for them. And these women of the WCC and their well-wishers did something unprecedented: they banded together to demand justice and equal treatment,” her note concluded.

meanwhile, 296 page Hema Committee report It was finally made public on 19 August. It includes testimony from several women from the industryIn some places the report also mentions girls instead of women, indicating that minors can also be victims of sexual abuse.

The detailed report does not name the culprits. It has exposed the darkest truth of Malayalam cinema, which has a huge fan following across the world