Actress Tanushree Dutta has voiced her concerns following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed the harassment and sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. Dutta, who was a key figure in India’s #MeToo movement, emphasized that no report or movement can bring about real change as long as those in power continue to protect the wrongdoers.
Justice Hema Committee Report and Industry Reactions
The Justice Hema Committee report was made public on Tuesday, shedding light on the serious issues women face in the Malayalam film industry. The committee was formed at the request of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) after a 2017 incident in Kochi, where a Malayalam actress was sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle. Actor Dileep was among the accused in the case, which shocked the industry and the nation.
Supporting the report, Justice Hema herself has expressed solidarity with the victims, standing firm in the fight against harassment in the industry. However, Dutta, who accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment in 2018, remains skeptical about the impact of such reports.
Tanushree Dutta’s Continued Fight for Justice
Tanushree Dutta was at the forefront of the #MeToo movement in India when she publicly accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment on the sets of the 2009 film Horn OK Please. Despite her efforts to seek justice, Dutta feels that little has changed. She remains frustrated that, five years later, her case has yet to progress significantly.
Dutta shared her disappointment, stating, “In this country, it doesn’t matter who you are—Miss India, an actress, an educated person, or a successful individual. As long as those in power protect criminals, no movement or report can make a difference.” She highlighted the systemic corruption, where illegal money is used to bribe authorities, making it nearly impossible for victims to get justice.
Challenges in the Legal System
Dutta’s case against Patekar has been marred by challenges. She alleged that the police failed to record statements from her 14 witnesses and attempted to include a ‘B Summary’ report, indicating insufficient evidence to file charges. Dutta further claimed that her witnesses faced threats, with one fleeing to his village, another moving to West Asia, and a female witness remaining silent out of fear.
“My witnesses told me they received threatening calls from PCOs, and the police never contacted them for any statement,” Dutta said. She lamented the slow pace of justice, noting that it has taken five years just to keep her case open, with a court date for a protest petition scheduled for next month.
Concerns for Personal Safety
Dutta also revealed a disturbing incident from 2022, where she believes someone tampered with the brakes of an auto-rickshaw she was traveling in Ujjain, causing an accident. She claimed this was not an isolated incident, suggesting a deliberate attempt to harm her. “It was not a coincidence as this happened not once but twice,” Dutta stated, highlighting her ongoing concerns for her safety.
In her plea for justice, Dutta questioned, “I am also someone’s daughter, don’t I have the right to live in this country and feel safe?”
