Hours after announcing POSH committee, Karnataka film body puts it on hold

On Monday, the KFCC announced that a committee, with director and activist Kavitha Lankesh as its chairperson, would be formed to address sexual harassment complaints in the Karnataka film industry.

The committee, it said, would include prominent members like women’s activist K S Vimala, transgender activist Mallu Kumbar, actor Sruthi Hariharan, senior journalist Muralidhar Khajane, etc.

Hours later, however, KFCC president N M Suresh told the media that the decision was put on hold as the KFCC presidential election was scheduled to be held on December 12. The decision would be revisited later, he added.

Following the Justice Hema committee report in Kerala, which looked into the issues being faced by women professionals in the Malayalam film industry, including sexual harassment, the film body Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE) had approached the Karnataka chief minister to set up a similar panel in the state. The KFCC had also been under pressure from the Karnataka State Women’s Commission to form a POSH committee.

‘Will wait till Dec 14’

Lankesh said that they would wait till December 14 as KFCC had promised a committee would be formed.

Meanwhile, following a media statement claiming that senior Kannada actor-producer Pramila Joshai was one of the panel members, her daughter and actress Meghana Raj denied the news.

“My Mother Pramila Joshai, Actress/ Producer Is NOT part of any committee which has been formed recently. She is currently the Vice president (producer sector) of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. Using her name without her consent in relation to committees which are still under discussion is not Fair and will not be taken lightly but us,” she said in an Instagram post.