Samantha Prabhu Leads Push for Release of 2-Year-Old Tollywood Report

Several years ago, a sub-committee member investigating sexual harassment and gender bias in Telugu cinema made a significant contribution, believing it is now imperative to share their crucial report with the public. In 2019, Suneetha, a member of the committee formed under the former BRS government, which included key officials, law enforcement, and public representatives, spoke to TOI about their findings.

Recently, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, alongside other actors, has intensified calls for the release of the two-year-old report on the Telugu film industry. This push follows the recent disclosure of the Hema Committee report on sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry on August 19, which spurred increased demands among female actors for transparency regarding the Tollywood report. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Lakshmi Manchu are prominently leading this campaign.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu took to Instagram, stating, “We, the women of the Telugu film industry, welcome the Hema Committee report and commend the persistent efforts of the WCC in Kerala, which have paved the way for this moment. We urge the Telangana government to release the sub-committee report on sexual harassment submitted years ago. This report can guide both governmental and industry policies to ensure a safe working environment for women in the TFI (Telugu Film Industry).”

Suneetha expressed frustration, stating, “Despite multiple reminders to the government after submitting our report, we have not received a positive response regarding its public release. Our committee engaged extensively with female actors, camerawomen, and other women workers in the Telugu film and television industry, conducting over 20 sessions to understand their workplace challenges and coping mechanisms.”

The pressure on the Telangana government continues to mount as stakeholders advocate for transparency and accountability within Tollywood.