Thiruvananthapuram: The Malayalam film industry is facing a crisis as the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is rocked by sexual exploitation allegations and the release of the Hema committee report. In an unprecedented move, all the office bearers of AMMA, including President Mohanlal, resigned during an online meeting on Tuesday, signaling deep-rooted chaos within the organization.
The resignation comes in the wake of serious allegations against former General Secretary Edavela Babu, who is accused of demanding sexual favors from actresses in exchange for AMMA membership. This scandal has shaken the very foundation of the organization, prompting Mohanlal, who was serving his third term as President, to step down after consulting with veteran actor Mammootty.
In an emotional address during the meeting, Mohanlal expressed gratitude for the support he received but acknowledged that the current wave of allegations is one of the toughest challenges AMMA has ever faced. The 17-member executive committee, which was only formed in June, disbanded after just two months under intense pressure.
A new leadership committee is expected to be elected within the next two months. Speculation is rife that internal conflicts, particularly actor Jagadish’s dissent with the leadership, played a significant role in the resignation. Reports suggest that women members and younger actors aligned themselves with Jagadish, further destabilizing the existing leadership.
On Monday, actor Prithviraj openly criticized AMMA, a move that resonated strongly with the public on social media and reportedly caused further unrest among members. His comments, perceived by some as overly assertive, have added to the turmoil.
With the resignation of the current leadership, there is a growing momentum for reform within AMMA. Women are expected to play a more prominent role in the new management committee, and actors like Prithviraj, Kunchacko Boban, and Tovino are rumored to be leading candidates for the presidency.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) welcomed the resignations, viewing them as an opportunity to rebuild AMMA from the ground up. “This is our duty. Let’s create a new revolution…” the WCC declared, signaling a possible turning point for the organization.
