Two Women Accuse Director Sajin Babu of Sexual Abuse
Two women from the Malayalam film industry have come forward, accusing filmmaker Sajin Babu of sexual abuse during the early stages of their careers. Known for his critically acclaimed film Biriyaani, Sajin admitted to having “done wrong” by the women and offered an apology in response to the allegations. The revelations were first reported by The News Minute (TNM).
In interviews with TNM, the two women revealed their traumatic experiences, which resurfaced after a Facebook post by Sajin on August 24, in which he praised the Hema Committee report—a report highlighting systemic harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The post, which they found hypocritical, triggered them to speak out. Both women had previously deposed before the Hema Committee and expressed shock at Sajin’s post lauding the report.
One of the women, who worked as a crew member on one of Sajin’s films, recounted her ordeal. She explained how the director would repeatedly come into her room under various pretences, taking advantage of her discomfort to sexually abuse her. She had shared her experience with another colleague but chose not to escalate the matter at the time. It was only after hearing a similar story from another woman during the Hema Committee’s closed-door meeting that she realised Sajin’s behaviour was part of a pattern.
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The second woman, who was not initially part of the film industry, shared an equally distressing account. She had met Sajin to translate a script, and he took advantage of the situation by attempting to rape her. When she resisted, he apologised repeatedly but continued to harass her. She was able to escape but remained traumatised for years afterward.
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Sajin, in response to these allegations, admitted to his past mistakes and claimed to have apologised to both women. He also sent a lengthy explanation to TNM, attributing his behaviour to patriarchal conditioning and expressing his desire to become a better person.
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However, the two women remain sceptical of his apologies, viewing them as part of a calculated effort to maintain his progressive image. “He is masquerading as a feminist, using his platform to push a pro-woman narrative while hiding his true actions,” one of the women said.
The allegations come at a time when several actresses in Malayalam cinema are sharing their MeToo experiences, calling attention to the rampant abuse within the industry.
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The Hema Committee was established in 2017 to investigate the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry, especially in the wake of a sexual assault case involving actor Dileep. The committee was chaired by retired High Court judge Justice Hema, along with veteran actor Sharada and former IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari.
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Their report, which was submitted in 2019, brought to light the pervasive sexual harassment experienced by women in the industry. It particularly highlighted incidents where female actors faced unwanted advances before even beginning work. The report was made public last week.
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