However, no relationship is without controversy. Critics argue that while Malayalam cinema is progressive on paper, its industry practices often lag. The recent Hema Committee report (2024) revealed deep-seated misogyny, casting couch culture, and the sidelining of women in technical roles. There is a stark irony that a culture which celebrates strong female characters (like in Mili or The Great Indian Kitchen ) often denies those same opportunities to female technicians behind the camera.