Latest news with #SwethaMenon
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Breaking the script in cinema's power circle
Swetha Menon's election as the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) is more than symbolic. It signals a long-overdue shift in a male-dominated industry long accused of apathy toward gender justice. That she replaces a towering figure like Mohanlal only amplifies the weight of the moment. After years of being at the periphery of institutional power, women in alayalam cinema finally have a voice at the very top and it belongs to someone who has never shied away from speaking her mind. The election, held in Kochi, was closely fought. Swetha edged out veteran actor Devan by just 21 votes. Out of 506 eligible members, 298 cast their ballots. The results weren't just about Swetha's win. They reflected a broader change. Alongside her, three other women secured key posts: Kukku Parameswaran was elected General Secretary, defeating actor Raveendran, and actors Lakshmi Priyaa and Jayan Cherthala became vice presidents. This reshaped AMMA leadership is being seen as a response to years of discontent from within the industry, especially after the fallout of the 2017 actress assault case and the release of the Hema Committee report in 2024. Swetha's win didn't come without friction. Days before the vote, a legal complaint accused her of profiting from 'obscene' content, a charge widely seen as a smear campaign. But the attempt backfired, reinforcing her reputation as someone who refuses to be silenced or shamed. Throughout her career, Swetha has stood her ground, both on screen and off,despite repeated attempts to marginalize or undermine her. Born in Chandigarh into a military family, Swetha entered the entertainment world at 13. She first gained national recognition after winning the Miss India Asia Pacific title in 1994, which launched her modeling and television career. Soon, she transitioned to cinema. After debuting in Malayalam films with Anaswaram, she appeared in Bollywood hits like Ishq and Bandhan. But it was her second innings in Malayalam cinema, beginning in the mid-2000s, that cemented her place as an actor of substance. Swetha deliberately pivoted toward complex, grounded roles, and her performances in Paaleri Manikyam (2009) and Salt N' Pepper (2011) won her Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress. She would go on to win nearly 40 accolades across languages. But even at her artistic peak, she remained a figure unafraid to confront.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Breaking the script in cinema's power circle: Swetha Menon becomes AMMA's first woman president
Swetha Menon's election as the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) is more than symbolic. It signals a long-overdue shift in a male-dominated industry long accused of apathy toward gender justice. That she replaces a towering figure like Mohanlal only amplifies the weight of the moment. After years of being at the periphery of institutional power, women in alayalam cinema finally have a voice at the very top and it belongs to someone who has never shied away from speaking her mind. The election, held in Kochi, was closely fought. Swetha edged out veteran actor Devan by just 21 votes. Out of 506 eligible members, 298 cast their ballots. The results weren't just about Swetha's win. They reflected a broader change. Alongside her, three other women secured key posts: Kukku Parameswaran was elected General Secretary, defeating actor Raveendran, and actors Lakshmi Priyaa and Jayan Cherthala became vice presidents. This reshaped AMMA leadership is being seen as a response to years of discontent from within the industry, especially after the fallout of the 2017 actress assault case and the release of the Hema Committee report in 2024. Swetha's win didn't come without friction. Days before the vote, a legal complaint accused her of profiting from 'obscene' content, a charge widely seen as a smear campaign. But the attempt backfired, reinforcing her reputation as someone who refuses to be silenced or shamed. Throughout her career, Swetha has stood her ground, both on screen and off,despite repeated attempts to marginalize or undermine her. Born in Chandigarh into a military family, Swetha entered the entertainment world at 13. She first gained national recognition after winning the Miss India Asia Pacific title in 1994, which launched her modeling and television career. Soon, she transitioned to cinema. After debuting in Malayalam films with Anaswaram, she appeared in Bollywood hits like Ishq and Bandhan. But it was her second innings in Malayalam cinema, beginning in the mid-2000s, that cemented her place as an actor of substance. Swetha deliberately pivoted toward complex, grounded roles, and her performances in Paaleri Manikyam (2009) and Salt N' Pepper (2011) won her Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress. She would go on to win nearly 40 accolades across languages. But even at her artistic peak, she remained a figure unafraid to confront.
New Indian Express
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
WCC lauds woman actors for fighting injustices in industry
KOCHI: Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has lauded actors Urvashi and Swetha Menon and producer Sandra Thomas for 'fighting injustices' in the Malayalam film industry, even as it condemned statements by Adoor Gopalakrishnan on women and Dalit filmmakers. 'We congratulate Urvashi and Sandra Thomas for speaking up and expressing their opinions. Urvashi is protesting against the Central government for the way film awards were determined. We also condemn the stance taken against women who are coming to the forefront of film organisations, including Swetha Menon. All of them are symbols of tireless women who do not remain silent in the struggles they face in their careers and personal lives but rather move forward strongly,' stated WCC. The collective also criticised Adoor for his statements about new women and Dalit filmmakers at the film policy conclave held in Thiruvananthapuram last week. 'Through his commentsalit directors in Malayalam cinema, Adoor Gopalakrishnan has once again revealed his upper-caste, caste, and gender-based perspective to the public. WCC strongly condemns Adoor's approach and stance,' the statement said.
New Indian Express
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Kerala HC stays FIR proceedings against actor Swetha Menon; questions procedure in obscenity case
KOCHI: Expressing doubts about the procedural correctness of the lower court, the Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings in the FIR registered against actor Swetha Menon for allegedly making financial gains through her roles in movies featuring vulgar and obscene content. 'I find prima facie substance in the contention of the counsel for the petitioner that before forwarding the complaint for investigation under Section 175(3) of BNSS, the requirements therein, of calling for a report from the police and making enquiry, ought to have been complied with. Considering the short duration between filing and forwarding of the complaint to the police, it appears that no such procedure was followed,' said Justice V G Arun. He also directed the Registry to call for a report from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, regarding the procedure adopted before forwarding the complaint to the police for investigation. The court issued the order on a petition filed by Swetha Menon seeking to quash the FIR based on a complaint filed by Martin Menacherry, of Ernakulam. Swetha Menon is a candidate in the upcoming election for president of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) to be held on August 15. The FIR charges offences under Sections 3 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and Section 67(A) (Publishing or transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Advocates Unni Sebastian Kappen and M Revikrishnan, representing Swetha Menon before the High Court, submitted that the case is an abuse of the process of the court, as the allegations are ex facie absurd and improbable. The prosecution alleged that the accused, to secure monetary gain, appeared in several films and advertisements that contain obscene visuals. The complainant, Martin Menacherry, claimed that the visuals of the accused in these films and advertisements, which are available in public domain, are obscene and vulgar. By appearing in such advertisements and acting in films, the accused allegedly gained financial benefits. The complainant also alleged that the actor appeared in a vulgar manner by acting in a condom advertisement years ago and by acting in films like Paleri Manikyam, Rathinirvedham, Kalimannu, and more. The complainant further alleged that by searching the Internet, one could find photos of the accused, which, according to him, are obscene. The petition by Swetha described the complaint as unfounded, baseless, and absurd, pointing out that the allegation that the accused is securing financial gain by running pornographic websites is made without an iota of material to prima facie justify such a claim. The films in which the petitioner appeared are all duly censored and certified, and have been available in public domain for several years. It is crucial to note that the character portrayed by the petitioner in the movie Paleri Manikyam, which the complainant claims is obscene, earned her a Kerala State Award for Best Actress, stated the petition.
