Kerala film employees’ body breaks silence on sexual abuse storm — but asks members to keep mum

FEFKA is the only apex body of 21 trade unions of professionals and technicians working at various levels of the Malayalam film industry. It has around 8,300 members spread across 21 unions of directors, technicians, editors, art directors, cinematographers, musicians, mess workers, drivers, and others working with a film set.

While the actors body Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) last week responded to the Justice Hema Committee report, FEFKA, which has a much larger stake in the Kerala film industry, had been silent on panel findings and observations. Film director Ranjith, who is in the dock for allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of a woman actor, is also a member of the directors union of FEFKA.

After a steering committee meeting, B Unnikrishnan, general secretary, FEFKA, said in a release the Justice Hema Committee report is the most important guideline in the history of Malayalam film. “As there are serious observations about FEFKA member unions in the report, the steering committee has opined it is suitable to adopt a comprehensive stand after detailed discussion and analysis of the report. We fully understand the criticism over FEFKA’s silence on the report. What is important is not empty words which create a false impression of probity and epitome of idealism, but policies which lead to corrections as demanded by the time,” said the release.

FEFKA said it would hold a detailed discussion from September 2 for three days on the report and subsequent developments in the industry. In the meantime, the opinion of women members of FEFKA would also be sought, it said. The survivors of the sexual crimes will be given legal and psychological support, along with the assistance of clinical psychologists, it said.

The Justice Hema Committee report has made strong observations against directors for several unhealthy practices and anti-women approaches prevailing in the industry. The report also put several directors in the dock for the casting couch. It was found that persons with criminal backgrounds have crept into the industry in various roles leading to feelings of insecurity among women. The report also mentioned a disparity in the wages of assistant directors.

In the past, FEFKA banned director Vinayan from the industry. Incidentally, the Justice Hema Committee had found the ban as a bane of Malayalam cinema. In 2014, Vinayan approached the Competition Commission of India against the ban and the commission said the ban was illegal. In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected the petition of FEFKA against the directive of the Competition Commission of India.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Police have registered a rape case against prominent actor Siddique based on a complaint by a young actor. They also booked Ranjith after a Bengali actor complained that the director misbehaved with her during the pre-production discussion of a film in 2009.