Shweta Menon’s Historic Election as AMMA’s First Female President: A Turning Point After Three Decades and the Hema Committee Fallout

Kochi – In a landmark moment for the Malayalam film industry, actress Shweta Menon has been elected as the President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), defeating veteran actor Devan in a closely contested election.

This marks the first time in the organization's nearly three-decade history that a woman has ascended to the top post. Jayan Cherthala and Lakshmi Priya have been elected as Vice Presidents, Kukku Parameswaran as General Secretary, while Unni Shivapal emerged as Treasurer. The results, announced earlier today following polling that began at 10 AM, come at a pivotal juncture for AMMA, which has been reeling from the fallout of the Justice Hema Committee report and a wave of sexual harassment allegations that shook the industry last year.

The election, held amid heightened scrutiny and controversies, saw a turnout lower than previous years, with voters including prominent figures like former president Mohanlal casting their ballots. Mohanlal, who resigned in August 2024, did not contest, paving the way for a fresh leadership contest. Shweta's victory is not just a personal triumph but a symbolic turning point, signaling potential reforms in an industry long criticized for gender disparities and systemic issues affecting women.

The Road to This Election: A Year of Turmoil

AMMA, founded in 1994 as a welfare body for actors in the Malayalam film industry, has traditionally been led by male superstars like Mohanlal, MG Soman, Madhu. Veteran actor Innocent served the longest as President from 2000 to 2018 succeeded by Mohanlal till 2024.

However, the release of the Justice Hema Committee report in August 2024 exposed deep-rooted problems, including widespread sexual harassment, exploitation, and unequal working conditions for women. The committee, formed in 2017 following the high-profile assault case involving an actress , interviewed over 80 industry professionals and documented harrowing accounts of abuse.

Key findings included:

• Pervasive Harassment: Women actors reported being subjected to sexual demands for roles, unsafe accommodations on sets, and a "casting couch" culture controlled by a small group of 10-15 powerful men.

• Lack of Accountability: Complaints were often ignored or suppressed, with victims facing bans or career sabotage.

• Structural Inequities: Absence of basic facilities like changing rooms and toilets for women, alongside wage gaps and discriminatory practices.

The report triggered a #MeToo-like reckoning in Malayalam cinema, leading to multiple FIRs and investigations. Following the publication of the report, an audio clip of a junior actress naming the late veteran comedian Mamukkoya, the once popular actors Sudeesh, Idavela Babu, and Saju Kodiyan as actors who solicited sex from her while she was a struggling director, surfaced in the media.

The first response from AMMA came as a press meet on 25th August, with General Secretary Siddique and executive members downplaying the allegations as isolated incidents.

Shortly after that an actress who had earlier in 2019, accused Siddique of raping her, quickly slammed his pretentious statement to the press. The actress claimed that Siddique had called her to discuss a film but then raped her from the hotel room. As she narrated in gruesome detail how the popular actor had described his fetish over long fingers like hers, fantasized verbally about "licking her if not allowed to penetrate", even suggestively eating food in front of her, shocking the Malayali audience, Siddique was forced to resign from his position of General Secretary of AMMA overnight

The backlash was swift and severe. Mohanlal, who had served as AMMA president since 2018, resigned on August 27, 2024, along with the entire executive committee, citing the need for "moral responsibility" in light of the allegations. In his resignation letter, he acknowledged the media scrutiny and harassment claims against some members. The move came after actor Maala Parvathi revealed that Mohanlal stepped down partly because accused actor Baburaj refused to resign despite facing charges.

These events dissolved the 2024-27 executive committee, necessitating fresh elections. Critics argued that AMMA's male-dominated leadership had failed to address women's grievances, with some members accused of protecting perpetrators.

Dileep’s Reinstatement Sparks WCC Formation and AMMA’s Gender Reforms

In 2017, actor Dileep was removed from AMMA's primary membership after he was charged and arrested for criminal conspiracy in a criminal assault case. He was expelled from actors' guild and lost his primary membership in AMMA.

When Dileep was released on bail, his membership was reinstated by AMMA, claiming his removal was not legally valid as per the laws of the committee.

Protesting the lukewarm approach in expelling Dileep, few actresses protested and resigned from AMMA membership. They formed a group named Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). WCC protested through a series of social media interventions that AMMA should take a favorable stand towards the welfare of the female actors in Malayalam cinema. In light of these events, AMMA General body meeting conducted in 2021 revised its bylaws; including more women in the executive body; and established an internal complaints committee for the welfare of women.

The 2025 elections

The run-up to the August 15 election was fraught with drama. Initially, six candidates vied for president, including Jagadish and Jayan Cherthala, but withdrawals narrowed it to Shweta Menon vs. Devan.

Jagadish stepped back explicitly to support a female candidate. Kukku Parameswaran contested for General Secretary against Raveendran, while controversies swirled: Shweta faced a stayed police case over alleged explicit content, and Kukku dealt with claims about a "memory card" of testimonies. Baburaj withdrew amid assault allegations.

Polling concluded with Shweta's win announced by afternoon, as shared by industry insiders on social media. This outcome reflects a push for gender representation, with two women now in key roles.