A prominent filmmaker from Kerala has initiated an indefinite hunger strike, demanding that the state government make public a report prepared by a judicial panel chaired by former High Court judge Justice Hema on the issue of caste-based discrimination in the film industry. The protest, which carries the gravity of a fast unto death, has drawn attention to what the filmmaker describes as institutional silence around caste bias in Malayalam cinema and the broader Indian film landscape.
The Hema Panel was constituted by the Kerala government after widespread allegations emerged that certain segments of the film industry routinely marginalised individuals belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The panel was tasked with examining complaints, recording testimonies, and submitting findings that could inform policy intervention. However, despite the completion of its proceedings, the final report has remained classified, fueling frustration among activists and artists who have waited years for transparency.
The filmmaker, whose identity has been central to the call for accountability, stated in a public appeal that withholding the report amounted to a betrayal of those who had come forward with painful accounts of casteist behaviour, exclusion, and professional sabotage. The hunger strike is being held at a location in Thiruvananthapuram, where supporters, including members of artistes' associations and Dalit rights groups, have gathered in solidarity.
Kerala's political landscape has seen periodic debate over caste discrimination in creative industries. While the state is often credited with progressive social policies, critics argue that entrenched hierarchies persist within cultural institutions, including the film sector. The demand for the Hema Panel report has been echoed by several organisations, though no formal government response has yet been made public.
Legal experts note that while the state has obligations under constitutional principles of equality, it also faces questions around whether certain investigative findings should be kept confidential during ongoing proceedings. Nevertheless, protesters maintain that years of delay themselves constitute a form of structural violence.
