Hema Committee Report: Biriyaani director Sajin Baabu admits 'mistakes' after women raise sexual harassment allegations

There has been a string of allegations against artists and filmmakers in the Malayalam film industry ever since the pathbreaking Hema Committee Report was released. In recent revelations, Biriyaani-fame director Sajin Baabu has been accused of sexual misconduct during the early stages of his career. 

Two women, during an interview with The News Minute, alleged sexual harassment and praised the Hema Committee Report for giving them the opportunity to open up about their experiences. 

Sajin Baabu blames patriarchy after sexual misconduct allegations

After the allegations were raised, the Biriyaani director took to social media to pen a lengthy note reflecting on the conditioning of men, which leads them to "normalize" such pervasive behavior in society. He blamed patriarchy for allowing these wrongful acts to persist. (Translated) “In a deeply patriarchal society, men who are born and live by its norms often normalize many mistakes due to their ignorance, societal conditioning, and life circumstances. Like me, many people live by accepting these mistakes as normal.” 

He also praised the government for setting up the commission to investigate the matter and commended organizations like the WCC for fighting against injustice. 

He concluded by stating, “Let this be the beginning of that change. Those who continue to repeat these mistakes even after becoming aware of them must be punished.” 

Allegations against Sajin Baabu

One woman claimed that the director repeatedly visited her room under various pretences. Although she initially kept the incident to herself, she realized that Sajin Baabu's behavior was part of a pattern after hearing a similar account from another woman during the Justice Hema Committee’s closed-door meeting. 

The second woman, who wasn't initially involved in the film industry, also had a troubling encounter with Sajin Baabu. She alleged that during a meeting to translate a script, the director attempted to rape her. 

She further claimed that the director later apologized for his behavior but continued to harass her after the incident. She eventually managed to escape, but the experience left her traumatized for years. 

Sajin Baabu's Biriyaani

Sajin Baabu rose to fame when his 2019 film Biriyaani garnered several accolades. The film's lead actress, Kani Kusruti, won the 2019 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her impressive performance. Ironically, the film revolves around patriarchal norms imposed on a Muslim woman. 

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