At a time when many film artists have come forward with horror stories of how they were asked to “compromise” or “be prepared to adjust” to get roles while working in the film industry, veteran actor Sajitha Madathil has shared her experience.
While many see the Hema Commission report and the special investigative team investigating the matter as empowering for those facing sexual and mental harassment at work, Sajitha says now is also a time to wake up and bring about systemic change It's time. Change will lead to better leadership and give women more responsible roles, even in associations.
“We can't look at this attrition that we're seeing entirely negatively. Think of it as an opportunity that will help people become more gender-sensitive in the industry. This will allow women to have a more prominent role in associations and groups within the film industry. More leadership. It will also make women feel safe and issues will be dealt with more sensitively,” Sajitha said.
She also questioned the reasons behind the resignation from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).
“Is it their inability to face the situation, or their moral responsibility for what happened to so many actresses, that leads them to resign en masse? Or is it the fear that they will be forced to resign?” she asked.
Sajitha feels that the fact that the Kerala government has set up the Hema Commission along with the SIT is a good sign, but it should also lead to a logical conclusion that ensures justice for the women who come forward to record their statements.
Sajitha said she also faced harassment in the workplace. She recalled an incident when a colleague of a director from the Tamil film industry called her to inquire about a film role. He spoke with her at length about the role and asked a few minutes into the call: “Are you ready to make adjustments if needed? I'm sure you know what I mean,” Sajitha told News18, explaining how the moment How shocked she was when she heard the news.
She recalls that the Malayalam actress, who held senior positions including deputy director of Chalachitra College in Kerala and professor of acting at KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts, was in her forties. Entered the film industry.
“I was shocked when he said that. I didn't expect anyone to approach me in this way. The way he said it made so much sense. It was like I wouldn't have gotten the role if I hadn't agreed to the 'adjustment,'” she explain.
After the incident, Sajitha decided to tackle the issue head-on. She posted on her social media page about the character mentioned by the colleague.
“I mentioned the role and asked my friends if they would be interested. I also said there was a small problem – if they wanted the role they might ask for an 'adjustment'. I even published the man’s mobile phone number,” she said. The caller was flooded with messages asking him to speak.
“Soon, I got a call from him apologizing,” Sajitha recalled. “He asked me to delete the post, but I stood my ground.”
Sajitha has been actively working towards giving women regular pay through proper contracts, healthy working conditions, safe spaces for artistes, and proper compensation documentation so that junior artistes are paid fairly, and she is hopeful for change. A member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), she also said she hopes the Kerala government calls the WCC for further dialogue on their efforts.
“Many junior artists don't get their full salary because most of it is commission from their agents. Many contracts are verbal,” Sajitha said.
Calling the current state of the film industry in Kerala a long and hard struggle, she sees hope at the end of the tunnel which will herald a new beginning for Malayalam cinema and the artistes working in it.
Disclaimer: Due to legal and ethical guidelines, we generally do not disclose the name of the victim in cases of sexual harassment or assault. The name is included in this article because the person has publicly identified himself or herself in connection with the case. We respect the privacy and dignity of all individuals involved and urge readers to approach this matter with caution.
