Latest news with #HemaCommittee
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actor Raveendran withdraws his nomination for AMMA president post
Actor Raveendran has withdrawn his nomination to the post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). However, he will contest for the post of general secretary in the election for the executive committee of the association to be held on August 15. The actor said on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) that it was his personal decision to withdraw the nomination to the post of president. He was among the six actors who had filed the nominations for the post of president on the last day for filing nominations on July 24. The others included Jagadeesh, Shweta Menon, Devan, Anoop Chandra, and Jayan Cherthala. On speculations that a consensus may emerge to support a woman to the post of president, Mr. Raveendran said it should be welcomed. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 31. As many as 74 nominations were filed for the election scheduled for August 15. Though there were reports that Mr. Jagadeesh may withdraw his nomination to the post of president, there was no official confirmation yet from the actor. It was stated that he may withdraw to support the candidature of Swetha Menon, the lone woman candidate in the fray for the post of president. A divided house The association continued to remain a divided house on whether the members accused of misconduct in the Hema Committee report (on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry) or cases registered in its wake should contest the election. The issue came to the fore after actor Baburaj, who had faced allegations of sexual assault, filed his nomination to the post of general secretary. While actors such as Sarayu and Ansiba had stated that there was nothing wrong in the accused members contesting, others, including Mallika Sukumaran, Maala Parvathi, and Anoop Chandran, have opposed it, stating that it may set a bad precedent as actors had stayed away on earlier occasions after facing such allegations. Actor Vijay Babu, an accused in a rape case filed by a woman actor, said in a social media post on Tuesday that he had stepped down from the executive committee of the association following the allegations and that Mr. Baburaj should stay away this time as the latter has cases pending against him.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Maala Parvathi makes big claim about why Mohanlal turned down post in AMMA leadership ahead of re-elections
The elections for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) are set for 15 August. These elections are the first being held after the leadership, headed by Mohanlal, resigned in the aftermath of the Hema Committee report in 2024. In an interview with Manorama News, actor Maala Parvathi made big claims about why Mohanlal is now turning down running for leadership in the fresh elections. Mohanlal had served as the president of AMMA before he resigned after the Hema Committee report. (PTI) Maala Parvathi on Mohanlal resigning from AMMA leadership Ahead of the elections, Parvathi spoke to the press and claimed that Baburaj, who was accused of sexual abuse by a junior artiste, refused to step down from his position as joint secretary in AMMA. Baburaj is now vying for the post of general secretary in the elections. OnManorama translated what she said in Malayalam as: 'Over the years, we have seen accused persons being removed from key posts. This has been evident in AMMA since Dileep's case came to light. Vijay Babu, who was also accused of sexual abuse, was asked to resign, and we expect Baburaj to do the same. Mohanlal had to step down because Baburaj is unwilling to do so.' Artists like Ansiba and Sarayu have, however, reportedly stated that accused actors can run in the association's elections, much like accused politicians take part in elections too. Criticism against Mohanlal This comes after Mohanlal faced heavy criticism in August 2024 after a redacted version of the Hema Committee report was released. Amid mounting pressure after director Ranjith and actor Siddique were accused of sexual abuse, Mohanlal and other members of the committee were accused of not speaking up. They all tendered a joint resignation back then. Even recently, in June, a report by Asianet claimed that Mohanlal had refused to contest if elections were held to fill positions, even as the ad hoc committee was pushing for him to continue his term. He reportedly told the association he wouldn't contest if they held fresh elections to fill the posts. Initially, it was discussed whether the old committee should be allowed to continue without voting. It remains to be seen who will take on his post as president of AMMA.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sandra Thomas ups the ante by filing nomination for president of Kerala Film Producers' Association
Malayalam film producer Sandra Thomas arrived at the office of the Kerala Film Producers' Association in Kochi on Saturday (July 26, 2025) wearing a purdah to submit her nomination paper for the election to the executive committee of the producers' body scheduled on August 14. She is contesting for the post of president amidst her protracted rift with the current leadership of the association. She said that wearing a purdah was the safest option while visiting a space that has been dominated by men for long. She said that she will be part of a panel that will contest the election against the current leadership. It will include women and producers, who wanted to usher in a positive change, she said. The rift between her and the association had widened after she had written a letter to the executive committee blaming the office-bearers for their silence over the findings of the Hema Committee report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. She had also raised allegations of misconduct against the current office-bearers. The executive committee had expelled her from the primary membership of the association in November 2024 on charges of having breached the disciplinary norms. In December 2024, the Ernakulam Sub Court stayed the decision by the KFPA to suspend producer her from its primary membership.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Hectic parleys begins as new AMMA office bearers to be elected on Aug 15
Kochi; Ever since the explosive Hema Committee report surfaced last year, the affairs in the Malayalam film actors body -- Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has been fluid. Things went for a toss after the incumbent Secretary of AMMA -- popular actor Siddique resigned after a former actress pointed fingers at him of misbehaviour. Soon thereafter names of other actors also surfaced accusing them of similar behaviour. Seeing all this the AMMA President Mohanlal made it clear that he was not keen to continue, forcing the entire 17-member executive to resign. Following this, the committee under Mohanlal was asked to continue in the capacity of ad hoc committee until fresh elections are held. At the recently held annual general body, the decision was made that on August 15 a new executive should be appointed through a democratic process. Now with the last date of nomination coming up on July 24 and on July 31 it will be known if there is going to be voting. With around 500 members in AMMA, it's going to be a race against time as hectic parleys have started on the name of candidates who will be going to contest. With Mammootty now undergoing treatment and Mohanlal has already announced that he is done with anymore posts, the race has begun. By now factions have also emerged with one section led by State Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, who is already controlling the body of Television and Serial actors, he is keen to be a kingmaker in the film actors association too. Another faction who are keen to make it to the helm includes actor Baburaj who has started to make the vital moves. While there is another group which wants college professor-turned-actor Jagdeesh to take the lead. Yet another section is trying to see if a compromise can be reached to avoid an election, but their plans have reached a dead end when veteran actor Vijayaraghavan backed out, so did popular actor Kunchacko Bobban. Incidentally, the outgoing committee which was elected in 2024 had its term till 2027, but circumstances saw that it had a premature end when Mohanlal expressed his inability to continue. Many AMMA members now lament that with the passing away of comedian Innocent, who was the President for 15 years till 2018, things have not been the same as he had the knack of running AMMA through his deft handling without hurting the ego of any through his jokes.
India Today
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kerala to hold film policy meet to push long-pending reforms in Malayalam cinema
The Kerala Film Policy Conclave will be held on August 2-3 in Thiruvananthapuram, marking a major step towards a comprehensive cinema policy for the event comes in response to long-standing demands from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which has consistently called for structural reforms in the Malayalam film industry following the submission of the Hema Committee Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conclave, which is set to host prominent personalities from across India and abroad. Representatives from 17 Indian states that already have cinema policies will join the 500 delegates expected to The two-day event will feature panel discussions on nine major topics, with participants encouraged to share their suggestions. Public engagement sessions are also planned, and feedback gathered will inform the final for Culture Saji Cherian noted that significant groundwork has already been laid. 'We aim to create a comprehensive cinema policy. A committee was formed in 2023, and around 20 meetings were held. I don't think any other policy in Kerala's history has gone through this level of discussion, both at the individual and organisational levels. The government doesn't plan to change this framework for now. We will present it at the conclave.'- Ends
