When actor Sruthi Hariharan raised the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace in October, 2018, she brought to the fore an issue that been pushed under the carpet forever in the Kannada film industry. Her speaking up forced the film fraternity to think of a mechanism to address the issue.
Ms. Hariharan spoke to The Hindu on what this bold act meant for her personally and for the film industry. Excerpts from the conversation:
Do you find any change following the #MeToo movement, especially in the cinema world?
There is a perceptible change. Much dialogue is happening on the issue of sexual harassment in workplace and beyond. Women and children can now talk freely about this with their parents and grandparents. This is probably the conversation that never happened in the household. Because of the #MeToo movement, men understand appropriate behaviour or ways to approach women. In turn, women also understood the power of speaking the truth. This movement has empowered survivors of sexual violence to come forward and share their stories. I am really proud of them. This is inspiring. However, change will take its own time. #Me Too is not about naming and shaming perpetrators. It is calling out certain kind of behaviour. The shift which has slowly begun will reach a state where the patriarchal society will start understanding that if a woman says ‘No’, she means it.
Have you felt that you have done something for the greater common good of women or that you have been victimised for standing up?
I don't regret raising my voice. But, I do feel victimised for doing so. I have sacrificed my career, opportunities in the medium of expression I liked the most. But I felt that I would have cheated myself had I not raised my voice. I would have been a hypocrite if I did not question what I felt was wrong. As a result, the entire perception about me has changed, but I am glad that, henceforth, the perpetrator will think twice before committing a mistake.
#MeToo movement did not succeed in the film industry setting up an Internal Complaints Committee.
The Tamil film industry has set up an ICC. There is an ICC in the Malayalam film industry. The Kannada film industry is dragging its feet. Many in the Indian film industry oppose an ICC because they are scared. This is the irony of the situation.