“Not just actors and stars, but …” – Firstpost

The Malayalam film industry, long lauded for its artistic prowess, was shaken to the core on Tuesday when Mohanlal, the celebrated actor and president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), resigned along with other senior officials amid severe backlash against some of its members who were accused of sexual abuse.

On the same day, the Congress and the BJP also intensified their demands for actor-politician Mukesh's resignation as CPI(M) MP, citing the seriousness of the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, Malayalam superstar and Union minister Suresh Gopi has been criticised from his own party, the BJP, for supposedly defending Mukesh, against whom similar allegations of abuse have been made, and for allegedly manhandling media personnel in his Thrissur constituency on Tuesday.

The mass resignation of Mohanlal and other AMMA office-bearers comes at a time when the Kerala film industry is grappling with the revelations of some actresses who have narrated their traumatic experiences in the media. This follows the disturbing findings of the Hema Committee report which revealed widespread atrocities against women in the Malayalam film industry.

Salman Khan’s co-star Revathy has now commented on this.

“The film industry is not a very channelised industry, so there are times when you get invited for an audition but you don't get a role. Even hairdressers, technicians and others are invited, but there is no proper place to sit and modesty is violated,” she said.

She added: “Not only the actors and stars, but also members of other unions work side by side with their male colleagues, but the pay is much lower just because they are women.”