Actor Swara Bhasker discussed the conclusions of the Hema Committee, highlighting the entrenched patriarchal norms and financial constraints within the entertainment industry. She expressed her strong appreciation and support for the Women In Cinema Collective (WCC), acknowledging their courageous efforts in exposing sexual harassment and violence in the profession.
Swara Bhasker expresses outrage and solidarity with women in cinema collective amidst sexual harassment findings: “It has been heartbreaking to read the findings of the committee”
The actor shared a lengthy statement on Instagram, expressing her “heartbreak” upon reading the Hema Committee’s findings in response to the recent report exposing sexual harassment and exploitation within the Malayalam cinema industry.
A part of the statement read, “It has been heartbreaking to read the findings of the committee. More heartbreaking because it is familiar. Maybe not every detail and not every nitty gritty but the larger picture of what the women have testified to is all too familiar.”
She also talked on how the entertainment sector has always been dominated by men. She wrote, “Showbiz is and always has been a male-centric industry, a patriarchal power set-up. It’s also deeply perception-sensitive and risk-averse. Every day of production – shoot days but also pre and post-production days – are days when the meter is running and money is being spent. No one likes a disruption. Even if the disruptor has raised her voice for what is ethically correct. It’s so much more convenient and financially practical to just carry on.”
The Veere Di Wedding actor considered the deeply embedded feudal structure of showbiz as well as the larger dynamics within the entertainment industry. She explained how a culture of silence and complicity is fostered by the industry’s hierarchical structure, which treats senior executives like demi-gods.
She wrote, “Showbiz is not just patriarchal, it’s also feudal in character. Successful actors, directors and producers are elevated to the status of demi-gods and anything they do goes. If they do something unsavoury, the norm for everyone around is to look away. If someone makes too much noise and doesn’t let an issue drop, label them ‘trouble-makers’ and let them bear the brunt of their overenthusiastic conscience. Silence is the convention. Silence is appreciated. Silence is practical and silence is rewarded.”
Meanwhile, On August 19, the 296-page Hema Committee report was made available to the public. It includes testimonials from several female professionals. In many instances, the report uses the term “girls” rather than “women,” suggesting that minors may have also experienced sexual harassment.
The culprits are not identified in the comprehensive report. It revealed the most sinister aspects of Malayalam cinema, which has a sizable global fan base.
Also Read : Swara Bhaskar lashes out at reports claiming she’s losing work due to extra weight: ‘I gave birth a few months ago’
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