Telugu film actresses form protection cell

A part of the Telugu film industry which got a rude awakening by the death of Pratyusha under suspicious circumstances, formed a women's protection cell, Aasra, on Friday, headed by veteran actress Jayasudha.

The actress said afterwards the recent suicide by junior artiste Jhansi and the gang rape of a 15-year-old TV artiste triggered off the idea of launch Aasra. The actress worked with thespians such as N.T. Rama Rao, Nageswara Rao and Major Soundarajan.

"The idea is to give women in the film and electronic media a chance to get justice. Asara will not hesitate to institute an inquiry against any man however influential he might be," she said, adding the name of the complainant into sexual harassment charges would always be kept confidential.

She said a letter informing the Home and Cinematography Minister T. Devender Goud of Asara was sent.

"In my three decades in the film industry I have not come across even a single case of sexual harassment. Forget sexual harassment, people were scared to make a crude joke in front of women artistes," the actress said.

Speaking to journalists in Hyderabad she said: "NTR and ANR were extremely touchy about their public image, and treated their women artistes with respect. They never addressed us by our first names, though they knew us since our days as child artistes. Senior artistes also avoided smoking in front of us. The producers and directors used to be professional."

Actors then were "scared of getting a bad name" but this never meant they had the "proverbial stiff upper lip," she said. "The atmosphere used to be very relaxed and jovial, but within permissible limits."

Producer and director Tammareddy Bharadwaja, also a Asara member, said the organisation would not conduct a "witch hunt but try to get to the bottom of the truth and render justice to victims".

A film and television artiste C.V.L. Narasimha Rao said although the Supreme Court made it mandatory to form a women's cell at every workplace where women were employed, not a single cell has been established.

"The judgement was made in 1997 and for five long years nobody bothered to follow the orders. We also realised after a series of incidents that we have a long way to go. The investigation and findings of Asara will have legal sanctity in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict," Rao said.