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India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Men should rule: Kerala actor's sexist rant after film body elects woman head
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) recently created history by electing actor Shwetha Menon as its first female president and actor Cuckoo Parameswaran as general secretary. But the landmark moment was swiftly clouded by controversy after veteran actor Kollam Thulasi made shockingly sexist remarks during the Thulasi, the AMMA veteran notorious for pseudoscience rants and incendiary remarks during the Sabarimala row, stirred fresh outrage with his latest comments on women, suggesting their "position" in addressing the media at the association's milestone celebration, he belittled the achievement, saying, 'They say women will rule, we say men will rule. We have to wait and see what happens. Men should rule, right? Women should always be beneath us. Isn't it? Go use that (for views). Men should always be above women. Isn't it?" His remarks, widely slammed as misogynistic, drew flak for undermining the very milestone his organisation was marking. Thulasi later dismissed the statement as a 'joke', saying, "Now they will become my enemies. I was just joking'.However, the backlash has reignited conversations around the alleged deep-rooted sexism in Malayalam remarks come at a time when AMMA is already under scrutiny, following the Justice Hema Committee report that exposed systemic exploitation and discrimination against women in the Malayalam film industry. Alongside Menon and Parameswaran, actors Jayan Cherthala and Lakshmi Priya were elected as vice-presidents, with Ansiba Hasan as joint secretary and Unni Sivapal as treasurer. The executive committee includes actors Sarayu, Vinu Mohan, Tiny Tom, Neena Kurup, Santhosh Keezhattoor, Dr Rony David Raj, Sijoy Varghese, Joy Mathew, Anjaly Nair, and Asha have been tasked with restoring credibility to AMMA after its previous leadership stepped down amid sexual misconduct several members, including actor Asif Ali, hailed the new leadership as a chance for inclusivity and reconciliation, Kollam Thulasi's words have cast a shadow over AMMA's fresh start.- Ends
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Shouldn't men be the ones ruling?'; Kollam Thulasi sparks row with sexist remark – Joke or serious?
The recently concluded AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) elections, which saw actress scripting history as the first-ever woman president, have unfortunately been overshadowed by a controversial remark from actor . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a video shared by ICG Instagram handle, speaking to an online channel about the outcome, Thulasi said, 'Shouldn't men be the ones ruling? Women should be beneath us.' Although he later claimed it was meant as a joke, the video clip quickly went viral, sparking outrage on social media. Was it a joke or serious? On the other hand, there seems to be a sarcastic tone in Kollam Thulasi's comments. In the video, the actor says, 'Yes, take this statement – men should be above women'. Kollam Thulasi concludes by saying, 'I said this in a fun way, okay?' This suggests that the actor was indeed speaking in a light-hearted manner or mocking online media for twisting news. Shweta Menon scripts history with grace Despite the controversy, Shweta Menon's win is surely a milestone. Winning with a margin of 20 votes against her opponent Devan, Shweta addressed the press with humility and inclusiveness. 'Such a fiercely contested election has never taken place in AMMA before. I would never say Devan was defeated — instead, I believe I have received his blessings,' she said. Malayalam film industry unites to condemn FIR against Shwetha Menon over condom ad She further emphasized the need for unity within the fraternity and assured that AMMA would welcome members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) wholeheartedly. New leadership team takes charge Along with Shweta Menon's historic win, the elections saw Kukku Parameswaran elected as General Secretary, defeating Ravindran. Lakshmipriya and Jayan Cherthala were chosen as Vice Presidents, after a contest that also included Naser Latheef. The outcome marks a significant shift in the association's leadership structure as Shwetha Menon puts it, "AMMA is now a woman."
