Mollywood actor Mohanlal on Saturday broke his silence on the sexual abuse allegations in the Malayalam film industry saying that it was the right decision by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government to release the Hema Committee Report.

Speaking on the matter, he said the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is not answerable to all the questions, urging everyone not to put all the focus on the Association.

He said, “Please don’t destroy the industry.”

While addressing the media and the audience at the event, Mohanlal said, “AMMA cannot answer all the questions. These questions should be asked from everyone. This is a very hardworking industry. Many people are involved in it. But everyone cannot be blamed for this. Those responsible will be punished, investigation is going on.”

He assured that all the problems would be looked into and investigated, he added, “We will cooperate in the investigation process. We are here only to set things right. I am not aware of any such power group. I am not a part of it. I have not read the Hema Committee report.”

“If you ask why we have all quit our posts in AMMA now, the answer is that the entire Malayalam film industry is accountable. The report has highlighted not just one issue, but several. What exactly they are, you know better than I do”, Mohanlal said.

Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) filmmaker B Unnikrishnan, on sexual abuse allegations in the Malayalam film industry, said FEFKA is holding the meetings of its affiliate unions and “we intend to conclude all these meetings by September 4 or 5.”

“They will come out with their definite views and feedback on the Hema Committee report which we will analyse and we will prepare a detailed analytical report on the Hema Committee report and submit it to the government”, he added.

Mohanlal, a prominent actor, has resigned as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Following the shocking findings of harassment and abuse of women professionals by the Justice K Hema Committee, the entire executive committee also tendered their resignation.

The film body announced that a new committee would be formed through an election in two months.

In the aftermath of these revelations, various heads rolled into the Malayalam film industry. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had to step in, calling a high-level meeting with senior police officials, and establishing a seven-member special team to investigate the atrocities faced by women actors.

Additionally, fresh accounts of harassment, including an old case involving actor-politician Mukesh, emerged, as per the reports.

Director Ranjith and actor Siddique both stepped down from their leadership roles in a state-run film academy and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists respectively.

Amid these developments, actor Shammy Thilakan criticised Mohanlal for not speaking up, suggesting that those responsible for wrongdoing would face consequences.

Speaking to the press earlier, Thilakan criticised Mohanlal for not speaking up. While speaking to the press on recent developments in the film industry, he said that Mohanlal had lost his ability to respond.

He further said that whoever has done wrong will face consequences. He said: “Those who eat salt will drink water, whoever it is,” and added, “I live in fear too. The term ‘power group’ was used by the Hema Committee, and their report contains evidence of its existence. We can identify who is part of that group based on this evidence.”

The situation unfolded further as award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor Ranjith faced allegations from a Bengali female actor, while Siddique resigned as the general secretary of AMMA following a sexual assault complaint raised against him by a young actress. These events have led to significant upheaval within the Malayalam film industry.

Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith on Sunday stepped down as Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman following allegations of misbehaviour levelled against him by a Bengali actor. 

In an audio clip sent to a television channel, filmmaker Ranjith expressed his intention to step down from his position to prevent any negative impact on the reputation of the Left government in the state.

He also stated his determination to address the allegations against him through legal means.

Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra alleged that the filmmaker made advances towards her during the pre-production of a 2009 movie, leading to calls for an investigation into her allegations by key LDF constituent CPI, after the Justice Hema Committee’s findings.

She recently claimed that the filmmaker behaved inappropriately during the shooting of a film he directed, a charge which Ranjith has refuted, asserting that he is the “real victim” in the case.

“The person concerned (Ranjith) is a big name in the Malayalam film industry and a national award-winning director. I went to his residence to discuss an upcoming film project, and I did not like his behaviour. He made certain advances subtly and I felt uncomfortable while we were discussing the script,” Mitra said.

“I don’t know if he has treated other female actors in the film industry in the same way. It is up to them to open up or not if they have faced a similar situation. Maybe his power and influence played a role for others to not speak out,” she added.

Ranjith resigned in the face of intense protests against him and the state government due to these allegations.

On August 24, the opposition Congress and BJP demanded his resignation, contending that he had no moral right to continue in his position.

Additionally, senior Malayalam actor Siddique resigned from the post of general secretary of AMMA in response to rape and sexual assault allegations, which emerged following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report exposing incidents of casting couch and sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.