Malayalam actress Minu Muneer alleges sexual harassment by top industry names

Malayalam actress Minu Muneer has come forward with serious allegations against her former co-stars and production crew members, accusing them of physical and verbal abuse. Among those named are well-known actors M Mukesh and Jayasurya, whom she claims subjected her to "unbearable abuse" during the filming of a 2013 project.

In a Facebook post, Muneer recounted the distressing experience, stating, "In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable." The actress further revealed that she was compelled to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai after the incident.

Other accused individuals

Alongside Mukesh and Jayasurya, Muneer also accused several others, including actors Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu, advocate Chandrasekaran, and production members Noble and Vichu. She claims these individuals played a role in forcing her out of the industry.

In an article published in Kerala Kaumudi, Muneer had previously discussed the abuse, titled "Minu Left Malayalam Industry for Unable to Cooperate with Adjustment." Now, she is seeking justice, writing on Facebook, "I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against their heinous actions."

Industry-wide impact and hema committee report

Muneer's revelations come in the wake of the Justice Hema committee's findings, which highlighted widespread sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. The report has shaken Mollywood, leading to the resignation of two prominent industry figures.

Actor Siddique stepped down as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) following allegations of sexual assault by a young female actor. Similarly, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairperson Ranjith resigned after being accused of inappropriate behaviour by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra.

With mounting pressure to address these issues, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by female IPS officers to investigate the widespread accusations.