In response to the recent controversy surrounding the Justice Hema Committee report, actor Sanjjanaa Galrani has proposed the establishment of a new advocacy group, the Sandalwood Woman Artist Association (SWAA), to champion women’s rights and safety within the Kannada film industry.
Galrani recently met with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission to discuss the creation of SWAA, a move aimed at addressing the lack of an independent body for women in Sandalwood. “In the Kannada film industry, we don’t have any independent body. From my foundation, Sanjjanaa Galrani Foundation, I have requested the formation of an independent body so that newcomers entering the industry are aware of their rights and understand appropriate behaviour,” Galrani told ANI.
Earlier this month, Galrani leveraged her Instagram platform to draw attention to the need for such a support system, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach to protect and advocate for women in the industry.
Karnataka Women’s Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary also addressed the issue, stating, “This is the first time the film industry has had a meeting about forming a committee for women. It is a law that any organization with more than 10 women must have a POSH committee. I have issued them a letter. They have 15 days to respond. A POSH committee will not hinder film production. If anyone faces harassment, they can approach the committee… The president of the film industry has agreed to it.”
The call for a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) committee comes in the wake of distressing allegations detailed in the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed a culture of harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, involving powerful male producers and directors.
Sources By Agencies
