Kerala's most influential film body, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), remained mired in turmoil on Wednesday, 24 June, as fresh allegations of financial irregularities and internal power struggles surfaced. Amid the deepening crisis, veteran actor and Padma Bhushan awardee Mammootty expressed cautious optimism, saying the organisation would eventually find its footing.

'Of course, things will clear up in AMMA. It has to clear up,' Mammootty said, offering a note of hope even as counter-allegations continued to pile up within the body.

Why the Committee Quit

The immediate trigger for the crisis was the resignation of the entire executive committee led by former AMMA President Shweta Menon on the preceding Sunday. Following the mass exit, a nine-member ad-hoc committee under Congress MLA Ramesh Pisharody has been tasked with managing the organisation's affairs, including conducting fresh elections to appoint a new executive committee within four months.

In a strongly worded social media post on Wednesday, Menon defended her decision to step down, saying she had been unwilling to become 'anyone's puppet.' She alleged that attempts at character assassination had begun even before she assumed office and continued throughout her tenure.

Calls for Forensic Audit

Menon claimed she had been prevented from scrutinising questionable decisions made by previous office-bearers. She called for a comprehensive forensic audit of AMMA's accounts covering the tenures of the last two executive committees, arguing that only a scientific examination of the finances could restore confidence in the organisation. She also firmly rejected attempts to assign political affiliations to her, stating she was aligned with neither the Sangh Parivar nor the Communist movement, and that her resignation was aimed at protecting her independence and the organisation's autonomy.

Financial Allegations by Former Treasurer

The controversy sharpened further with former Treasurer Unni Sivapal levelling fresh allegations about AMMA's financial management. He claimed that nearly ₹15 lakh was spent on a family meet without the executive committee's approval, and that he had formally objected to the expenditure at the time.

According to Sivapal, his opposition to the spending may have contributed to disciplinary action being initiated against him. He further alleged that several accounts were prepared after he was sidelined from financial decision-making, and rejected claims that Menon was unaware of the action taken against him. He also revealed that internal differences had grown so intense that even a WhatsApp group comprising only the President, Secretary, and Treasurer was frequently the site of heated arguments.

What This Means for Kerala's Film Industry

AMMA is the primary representative body for Malayalam film artists and has historically wielded significant influence over industry affairs. The current crisis — marked by allegations of financial mismanagement, political interference, and leadership breakdown — has exposed deep fault lines within an organisation that has already faced public scrutiny in recent years.

With the ad-hoc committee now in charge and elections due within four months, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether AMMA can rebuild trust among its members and the broader film community.