Latest news with #Shwetha
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shwetha Menon says assault survivor is ‘welcome' to return to AMMA: ‘Those who left AMMA should come back'
Actor Shwetha Menon has been elected as the first-ever female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). In an interaction with Matrubhumi, Shwetha said that the survivor of the actress assault case, who was once part of the organisation, would be welcomed back if she made the decision to return. Shwetha Menon has been appointed as the new president of AMMA after Mohanlal's resignation. (Instagram: @robbin_fotografia) What Shwetha said Shwetha said, 'There are many issues that need to be resolved. We cannot remain stuck on just one point. She was once part of the organisation but chose to resign. If she returns, it would be welcome. But if you ask whether it's an urgent agenda item, it is not. I am not bringing in rules from my own household. There are specific rules and bylaws that apply to reinstating former members.' 'Those who left AMMA should come back' She went on to add, 'Those who left AMMA should come back. That's the wish of the majority of our members. Everyone wonders why they distanced themselves. Personally, I wish for their return. Maybe one meeting won't be enough — it might take ten or even a hundred meetings. I hope the executive committee and general body will support my personal mission. As the president, I will take the initiative.' However, Shwetha clarified that those who are facing allegations must step aside as it is a matter of 'social responsibility.' Last year in August, senior Malayalam actor Siddique resigned from the post of general secretary of the AMMA following rape and sexual assault allegations from a female actor. The allegations of sexual assault and rape were reiterated after the release of the Hema Committee Report, which she had first made in 2019 through a Facebook post. The alleged incident took place in a hotel in 2016. Following intense criticism, actor Mohanlal resigned from the position of President of AMMA in the same month.
The Print
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Year after release of Hema panel report, Malayalam actors' body elects women to its top positions
Earlier, in July, actor Ansiba Hassan was elected unopposed as joint secretary. Established in 1994, this is the first time women have been appointed to key positions in the organisation. After the results were announced, the new leadership took oath in Kochi. According to the members, 298 of a total of 506 members participated in the election held on 15 August. Actor Shwetha Menon has been elected president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), while Kukku Parameswaran has been appointed general secretary. Actors Lakshmi Priya and Jayan Cherthala have been elected vice presidents, and Unni Shivapal has taken on the role of treasurer. Thiruvananthapuram: For the first time in its history, the actors' body of the Malayalam film industry elected women to its highest positions on 15 August, following a contentious election and various controversies. Expressing her joy at being elected through a democratic process, Shwetha said she hoped the announcement would not lead to controversy. 'You (the media) said AMMA should be led by a woman. Now, it is a woman. You should support me. I believe there is no difference between men and women in cinema; we are merely characters between action and cuts,' she remarked. The actor mentioned that she had a personal vision for the organisation but would reveal it only after an executive meeting. She also noted that any conflict within the organisation would be addressed internally and she would seek the guidance of industry veterans such as Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Suresh Gopi, who are regarded as the patrons of AMMA. 'It will be a gradual progress. Do not anticipate miracles immediately,' she cautioned. The general body election was prompted after the executive committee, led by Mohanlal, submitted mass resignations in August 2024 following the release of the Hema Committee report. Elected in June 2024, 17 members of the executive committee resigned after allegations were made against several members following the report's publication. Formed in 2019 by the Kerala government, the Hema Committee studied issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry and revealed widespread and persistent sexual harassment. Though submitted in December 2019, the report was only released five years later in 2024. For the election on 15 August, six nominations were submitted for the presidential position, including that of Shwetha. However, prior to the withdrawal deadline, Jagadish, Raveendran, Jayan Cherthala, and Anoop Chandran retracted their candidacies, leaving Shwetha and Devan to compete. The election was also marred by numerous controversies. A week ahead of the polls, Shwetha was charged by the Ernakulam Central Police of participating in obscene or explicit films and advertisements for financial gain. The complaint, lodged by social activist Martin Menachery, referenced her roles in films such as 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha', 'Rathinirvedam', and 'Kalimannu'. Clips from these productions were disseminated on social media and adult websites. Shwetha approached the Kerala High Court to annul the FIR, and on 7 August, the court issued an interim stay on all proceedings in the matter until 23 September. Kukku too faced accusations of having 'lost' a memory card that contained sensitive video recordings from a 2018 meeting of women actors in the industry, during which they expressed their grievances. She asserted that she was being targeted to damage her reputation during the election period. Shwetha began her career in the early 1990s and has appeared in prominent South Indian films in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil, in addition to several Hindi films. In 1994, she also participated in the Miss India contest, where she was the third runner-up. Her significant career breakthrough occurred post-2000, with performances in 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha' (2009) and 'Salt N' Pepper' (2011), both of which earned her the Kerala State Award for Best Actress. Kukku started out as a child actor in the early 1980s. In 1988, she received the State Film Award for second best actress for her role in 'Ore Thooval Pakshikal'. She has also featured in films like the 1999 Mohanlal-starrer 'Vanaprastham, Anantharam' (1987), and 'Nizhalkuthu' (2002). (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Thilakan called out Malayalam movie mafia before Hema committee report. He was banned for it
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AMMA election win: Shwetha Menon's husband shares family struggles - 'The case was filed with the intention of demoralising her'
Shwetha Menon 's win in the AMMA elections has drawn attention not just in the film industry but also in her personal life and her husband, Sreevalsan Menon, opened up about the family's struggles during the election period and also shared why he feels her leadership can mark a turning point for the actors' association. Sreevalsan Menon praises Shwetha Menon Shwetha Menon's husband, Sreevalsan Menon, shared his thoughts after her victory in the AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) elections. He said he has complete faith in her abilities and believes that AMMA has chosen an excellent president. According to him, Shwetha is not only a capable organiser but also has natural leadership qualities that can bring people together and guide the association in the right direction. Case filed against Shwetha Menon Sreevalsan admitted that the case filed against Shwetha during the election period was a very difficult time for their family. He said 'Our family felt the case was filed with the intention of demoralising Shwetha. It caused us huge distress. We were worried about how our daughter would handle it… the allegations were extremely unpleasant. Fortunately, the law was on our side. We feared that Shwetha would be mentally affected, but she stood strong. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These 11 Everyday Foods Might Be the Key to Knee Pain Relief Undo The industry, the media, and the general public all extended their support. This is also an opportunity to thank everyone.' Speaking about AMMA's situation with Mathrubhumi News, Sreevalsan pointed out that the association's public image has been poor for some time. He said 'AMMA's public image is extremely poor. At such a time, the presence of a woman was very necessary. Senior actors themselves said that it's time for a woman to take charge and bring about change. From an outsider's perspective, I believe this change will help improve that tarnished image.' 'We hope Shwetha will become a unifying factor. She possesses strong leadership qualities and is an excellent organiser. In every way, a very good president has been chosen,' he added. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lights, camera, action! Shwetha fights off odds to plot her comeback
KOCHI: Shwetha Menon's election as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) marks a stunning comeback. As she filed her nomination for the post, the actor, who has been active in Malayalam cinema since 1991, encountered many obstacles. An FIR was filed with the Ernakulam Central police station on August 6 charging her with 'transmitting sexually explicit content' and 'indecent representation' of women through her roles in certain films, some of them widely acclaimed. Shwetha, who served as vice-president of AMMA from 2021 to 2024, was the first woman to hold that position. In 2022, she resigned from the internal complaints committee expressing disappointment over 'inaction' against Vijay Babu following rape allegations against the actor-producer. Commenting on the case against her, Shwetha said she believes it was part of an election stunt. 'Because the films the petitioner mentioned were released some 10-12 years ago. I don't understand the basis of the case. The case is now in court. I cannot comment on it,' she told reporters on Friday. Shwetha became a household name in the state through her roles in films such as Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, Penpattanam, Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty, Salt n' Pepper, Kalimannu, etc. She won the state award for best actress twice for Paleri Manikyam and Salt n' Pepper. 'It is always better when women fight and win. It is good that Shwetha fought and won,' said Devan, Shwetha's opponent. The new chair hopes to see past members returning to AMMA. About members who left the association following the actor assault case in 2017, she said, they can return to the organisation. 'They can come back. They are all part of the family. They are most welcome. I am willing to invite them personally. We will work together. There were many discussions here. The issues will be solved,' Shwetha said. reel power Total members: 506 Votes polled: 298 President: Shwetha Menon General secretary: Kukku Parameswaran Vice-presidents: Jayan Cherthala and Lakshmi Priya Joint secretary: Ansiba Hassan Treasurer: Unni Shivapal Executive committee members: 11 Anjali Nair Asha Aravind Sarayu Mohan Neena Kurup Joy Mathew Kailash Nandu Poduval Santhosh Keezhattoor Tini Tom Vinu Mohan Sijoy Varghese Poll Absentees Mammootty Manju Warrier Indrajith Prithviraj
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shwetha Menon creates history; first woman to lead AMMA; actress says, 'AMMA is now a woman'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actress Shwetha Menon has been elected as the organisation's first-ever woman president in a historic milestone for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The victory, sealed on Thursday, saw Shwetha secure 159 votes — 20 more than her opponent Devan, who received 132. Standing before members and the media after the announcement, Shwetha said with a smile, 'You all said AMMA should be a woman, and today that moment has come — AMMA is now a woman. ' The election saw an impressive turnout, with 298 members casting their votes. 'Namaskaram. First of all, I thank all our family members who are here today… I am speaking this gratitude from the language of my heart,' she said, adding that holding two general body meetings in a year had been a costly yet unifying effort. 'I will personally invite them back' Shwetha made it clear that her vision as president would be one of inclusion and healing. Referring to members who had resigned or left due to disagreements, she said, 'Those who resigned from AMMA will return. Those who left in disagreement should come back — if necessary, I will personally invite them.' She also reached out to members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), stating they were 'all part of the AMMA family' and expressing readiness to meet them personally. Shwetha Menon on 30 years of her debut movie 'Anaswaram' Her remarks reflected an emphasis on collaboration: 'We should first hold an executive meeting and make some decisions. Step by step, we must do everything together.' A team effort: New faces in key positions The election also brought in new leadership across key posts. Kuku Parameswaran was elected General Secretary with 172 votes, defeating Ravindran's 115. For the vice-president position, Lakshmipriya won with 139 votes, while Nasser Latheef trailed at 96. As she took on her new role, Shwetha reflected on the essence of the profession: 'I believe there is no gender divide in cinema — only characters exist. The life of a film artist lies between an action and a cut.' With her win, AMMA's leadership enters a new chapter. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
