Latest news with #Mohanlal-led
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Shwetha Menon becomes 1st woman President of Malayalam film body, says 'don't expect miracles'
In a landmark moment for the Malayalam film industry, actor Shwetha Menon has been elected as the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). Her victory follows a year of turmoil after the resignation of the Mohanlal-led committee in August 2024, which stepped down in the wake of the explosive Hema Committee report that exposed widespread issues including sexual misconduct and pay disparity within the industry. Reacting to her election, Menon stated, 'I haven't planned anything. I am just waiting for the first meeting to happen. I don't have an agenda. I do have my personal plan, but I need to discuss this because this is a very serious matter. And though it's 506 people, for me it's a big family and I need to keep everyone together. ' She added, "As a woman, I feel we are multitaskers and to do this I think it's not going to be that difficult. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to do something really good and I'm looking forward to it. But it's going to be baby steps — please don't expect miracles, but yes, we will be doing something for a change." Lakshmi Priya was elected Vice President, with Kukku Parameshwaran and Ansiba Hasan as Joint Secretary and General Secretary respectively. Unni Shivapal won the position of Treasurer. Menon's win comes during what is being described as the most controversial election in AMMA's history, marred by personal disputes and legal battles. Of the organisation's 506 eligible members, only 298 cast their votes, a significant drop from the 70 per cent polling rate in the previous election to just 58 per cent this year. Notably absent from the voting process were major stars such as Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Nivin Pauly, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Asif Ali.
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Shwetha Menon becomes first woman president of Malayalam film body
Actor Shwetha Menon won the election and has been chosen as the first female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). She contested for the post of president against Devan. Her dramatic win comes almost a year after the Mohanlal-led committee resigned over the explosive Hema Committee report, which exposed sexual allegations, pay disparity and many other pressing issues in the Malayalam film Priya has been chosen as the Vice President, while Kukku Parameshwaran and Ansiba Hasan won the Joint Secretary and General Secretary posts, respectively. Unni Shivapal won the position of voting was held between 10 am to 1 pm in Kochi on Friday. The results were announced at 4 pm. The organisation's 506 members had the right to vote. The campaign was marred by personal disputes and cases. This was the most controversial election in the organisation's history. However, out of 506 members, only 298 votes were cast. Notable actors like Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Nivin Pauly, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali and several others did not participate in the the previous election had a 70 per cent polling rate, the 2025 election saw only 58 per cent polling rate, which is a 12 per cent ahead of the election, a case was filed with the Ernakulam Central Police against Shwetha for allegedly acting in obscene and vulgar films and ads. She approached the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the case. During the hearing, the judge ordered an interim stay on the proceedings against her.- Ends
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
AMMA decision to elect new team, not going to be an easy affair
Kochi: The Malayalam film industry for the past over three decades has been led by Mammootty and Mohanlal as their words always commanded respect and it was the binding thread that held the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes ( AMMA) together, despite the big fat egos of the members. Of late, things in AMMA have been hanging fire ever since the Hema Committee report was released, "exposing the appalling conditions faced by women in the industry". The situation worsened when several women artistes -- mostly those in minor roles -- came forward with allegations of sexual exploitation by prominent actors. Trouble started when the newly elected general secretary, Siddique, had to quit after allegations surfaced against him last year. Even though the Mohanlal-led AMMA executive had a three-year term, following the allegations and the police complaints being registered, the team decided to resign. However, it was asked to continue as an ad-hoc committee till the next annual general body meeting. When the annual general body meeting was held here on Sunday, it turned out to be a damp squib after differences of opinion surfaced over the way forward. Finally, it was decided that instead of filling up the vacant posts of secretary and treasurer, a fresh election would be conducted. An actor on condition of anonymity said the fresh election is to be held in three months, likely in September. Meanwhile, Mohanlal has told his close aides that he will no longer take up any post and, in the best interest, let a new team consisting of the new generation of actors take over. However, the new generation of actors is not keen to run AMMA, and this has led to confusion, and what has hurt AMMA the most is the absence of Mammootty, as he is indisposed and is keeping away from all film-related activities for a while. Mammootty's words always mattered, and no one used to defy them. And now with Mohanlal expressing firmly that he is also not interested, all eyes are on who is going to play the unifying role, as talks have started on putting a new team to lead AMMA through a democratic mode.
