AMMA crisis deepens: members demand financial transparency, fresh polls
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is facing its most serious internal crisis in recent memory, with a vocal section of members publicly demanding financial transparency and the dissolution of the current executive committee. The dispute, centred in Kochi, has drawn in some of the biggest names in Malayalam cinema and threatens to further destabilise an organisation already weakened by earlier controversies.
Background: From Hema Committee to New Leadership
The current turmoil has its roots in the fallout from the Hema Committee report, whose public release triggered a sweeping leadership overhaul at AMMA. The earlier team, which included actor Mohanlal and Siddique, stepped aside to make way for a women-led executive headed by actors Swetha Menon and Kukku Paramesweran. That transition was widely seen as a corrective step. However, according to reports, the underlying tensions within the organisation were never fully resolved.
Mala Parvathy Calls for Accounts to Go Public
Actor Mala Parvathy has emerged as one of the most prominent voices demanding accountability. She called on the association to make its income and expenditure records publicly available, arguing that the funds belong to the broader industry. 'The money was earned using the faces of great actors. Its accounts should be made public,' she said. Parvathy also revealed that treasurer Unni Sivapal had been tasked with clarifying the financial records, but members were reportedly never given satisfactory explanations.
Mallika Sukumaran Demands Dissolution and Fresh Elections
Veteran actor Mallika Sukumaran — mother of actors Prithviraj and Indrajith — launched a sharp attack on the current leadership, calling for the executive committee to be dissolved and fresh elections held without delay. 'It has become such a shame that one cannot even walk outside,' she said, describing the situation as deeply embarrassing for the Malayalam film industry.
Sukumaran urged superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal to intervene and restore order. She also accused AMMA General Secretary Kukku Paramesweran of spreading defamatory remarks against her, and questioned the organisation's administrative opacity. 'Why are there so many CCTV cameras in the AMMA office? Everything is being done secretly and behind closed doors,' she alleged. She further dismissed Swetha Menon's claim of ignorance about the controversy, and alleged that actor Ansiba Hassan's views had been influenced by a third party. According to Sukumaran, actor Tiny Tom was among those who had earlier recommended including Ansiba and Sarayu Mohan on the committee.
Calls for Senior Intervention — and Why They May Go Unheeded
Multiple members have now called on Mammootty and Mohanlal to step in, given their stature within the industry and their historical association with AMMA. However, analysts and observers within the industry suggest it is unlikely that either star — or other senior figures who helped build the organisation — will publicly intervene at this stage. This comes amid a broader pattern of AMMA's institutional credibility being questioned since the Hema Committee disclosures.
What Happens Next
The mounting pressure on AMMA's current leadership to address both financial and administrative grievances shows no sign of abating. With public accusations now on record from multiple senior members, the association faces a critical choice: convene a transparent general body meeting and open its books, or risk a prolonged and damaging public standoff. The outcome will have implications not just for AMMA but for the broader governance of professional bodies in Indian regional cinema.