Women in Malayalam film industry face gender discrimination, and this led to the formation of Women in Cinema Collective, states an article by Supriya Menon, wife of actor Prithviraj. The Collective of female artists and technicians also feels the industry has through movies perpetuated attitudes that are harmful to women.
Take Off actress Parvathy feels that on-screen sexism is a norm in Malayalam cinema. The dialogues and scenes are perpetuating sexism in the name of comedy. We get a lesser pay even if we play the main protagonist. It is done in the name of marketing and is unfair, she said.
The women associated with the Collective feels that they need a space to discuss their issues. Noted film editor Beena Paul states that they find themselves as an advocacy group."We will have a legal cell and a counselling centre. It's not just about redressal of sexual harassment issues but also about giving us equal space," she said.
In the article, originally published in Huffington Post, states that the recent abduction and assault of Malayalam actress made women professionals to focus on the challenges faced by them.
Veteran actress, director Revathy feels the industry is not structured. The Collective is trying to ensure the dignity of women in the industry, and is different from other associations as it is by the women for the women, she said.
Rima Kallingal, another actress, feels there is so much discrimination. It begins from awarding roles to character detailing, acknowledgement and respect. However, Manju Warrier is hopeful that the move will bring in positive changes in the future.
Before the formation of women's Collective, Malayalam film industry was largely dominated by Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), an association of artists and Film Employees' Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) for technicians.