Malayalam Actor Siddique and Others Facing Sexual Abuse Allegations in Film Industry

Escalating Allegations in Malayalam Cinema

A female actor in Malayalam cinema levelled sexual abuse allegations against four prominent male actors, including M Mukesh, igniting turmoil within the film industry already fraught with the explosive findings of the Justice K Hema Committee. Hours after the actress made her claims against Mukesh, who is also a CPI(M) MLA, protests erupted with workers from Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress marching towards his residence in Kollam, demanding legal action and his resignation.

Call for Investigation

The Kollam MLA has yet to respond to the accusations. Additionally, the female actor has accused three other male actors in the Malayalam film scene. In response, actor Maniyanpilla Raju has urged a thorough investigation, emphasizing that the ongoing situation may reveal more complexities, with both innocent and guilty parties among the accused. Raju noted that a comprehensive inquiry is essential to address these serious allegations.

Government Response

As pressures mount on the Kerala government to act against predators in the film industry, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level meeting with senior police officials, leading to the establishment of a seven-member special team assigned to investigate the egregious acts faced by women in the film industry.

Context and Implications

The revelations from the Justice Hema Committee, set up by the Kerala government post the 2017 actress assault case, expose rampant harassment and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema, calling for urgent action against the perpetrators.