Malayalam film assistant makeup artist arrested in sexual harassment case

An assistant make-up artist working in the Malayalam film industry has been arrested and released on bail based on a complaint filed by the make-up artist. She claimed he inappropriately touched and videotaped her without her consent during the filming.

The Infopark Police in Kochi have arrested the accused, identified as Charut Chandran, on charges of Sections 354 (assault or violence against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354a(1)(i) (physical contact and molestation involving unwanted and overt sexual attempts ) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Charut was taken into custody on Wednesday, October 30, after he was summoned for questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to probe the cases registered after the publication of the Hema Committee report. On the same day, the local court released him on bail.

The plaintiff in the case, who had earlier spoken to TNM about the numerous incidents of harassment she had faced on various sets, said she initially approached the Kerala Makeup and Hairdressing Union (AKCMH) with a complaint against Charuth and another makeup artist, but the union blocked it. AKCMH is one of the 21 trade unions under the Kerala Film Workers Federation (FEFKA).

“I have been threatened and intimidated by unions, claiming that I will lose my job opportunities if I continue to pursue sexual harassment complaints. Eventually I had to let them go. It was only after the Hema Committee report was released that the SIT got involved and they started taking our complaints seriously,” she told TNM.

Two other famous makeup artists and , were recently arrested in similar cases based on the testimony of another complainant. TNM has previously reported how the male monopoly in film make-up is making it increasingly dangerous for female workers, as their jobs often depend on men who have power over them and use it to their advantage.

After the release of the Hem Committee report, which exposed the abuse of power in Malayalam cinema, many women in the industry have come forward and publicly shared the traumatic experiences they endured in the workplace.