The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is in turmoil following the mass resignation of its office bearers, including president Mohanlal, on Tuesday. The resignations have sparked widespread debate within the Malayalam film industry, with various stakeholders expressing their views on the future of the organisation.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), known for advocating gender equality in the industry, emphasised the collective responsibility to build a just future. In a statement shared on their official social media accounts, the WCC urged the industry to “rethink, reshape, and rebuild.” They called for a new revolution focused on justice and dignity for all. The WCC, formed in the wake of the 2017 abduction and sexual assault of a leading actress in Kochi, played a pivotal role in petitioning the Kerala Chief Minister, which led to the formation of the Justice Hema Committee to investigate issues within the industry.
Director Vinayan, a prominent critic of AMMA, voiced his opinion on the resignations, stating that he did not believe the office bearers stepped down out of shame. He expressed no satisfaction in seeing AMMA weakened but saw the situation as an opportunity for positive change. In an interview with Mathrubhumi News, Vinayan suggested that those who have never held the positions of president or secretary should now assume leadership roles, marking a shift towards more democratic governance.
Joy Mathew, one of the AMMA executive committee members who resigned, announced that he would not participate in the upcoming conclave proposed by the state government to discuss the Justice Hema Committee report. He emphasised the need for an ad hoc committee to decide the association’s stance on the matter. Mathew also highlighted the importance of implementing the Hema Committee’s recommendations, predicting that Mohanlal might return as AMMA’s president if he is willing.
When questioned about the silence of major stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty, Mathew defended their decision to stay quiet, explaining that the office bearers speak on their behalf as members of AMMA. He downplayed the current crisis, stating that Malayalam cinema has faced more significant challenges in the past, such as the controversy surrounding actor Dileep, who was arrested for allegedly orchestrating the 2017 actress abduction. Mathew also criticised the state government and the Cultural Affairs Minister for delaying the release of the Justice Hema Committee report for over four years. He called for Mukesh, an AMMA member and legislator accused of sexual misconduct, to step down from his political position while under investigation.
“Is the Chief Minister the only person who details all plans of the government? Other ministers do too, right? The CM only addresses the most important matters. In this case, the issue at hand isn’t that serious,” Mathew said speaking to the media. “Malayalam cinema has faced bigger troubles. The current one is not as big as the Dileep issue. He was AMMA’s treasurer at the time,” Mathew said.
Actor Shammi Thilakan, a long-time critic of AMMA like his father, veteran actor Thilakan, condemned the mass resignation as a betrayal of the members who elected the committee. He viewed the resignation as evidence of the association’s failure to address critical issues. Thilakan emphasised the need for the association to hold all members accountable, regardless of their status, and criticised the organisation for maintaining a casteist mindset, a problem he claims has persisted for years.
As the industry grapples with the fallout from the resignations, voices like dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi have called for 50 percent female representation in the next executive committee, while actor Shwetha Menon suggested that younger actors like Prithviraj Sukumaran should take the lead in shaping the future of AMMA.
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