A fresh governance crisis has gripped the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in Kochi, with former president Shwetha Menon publicly contesting the legitimacy of the newly formed ad hoc committee and insisting that her executive committee retains administrative authority until fresh elections are conducted.

Background: How the dispute unfolded

The conflict stems from events at AMMA's Annual General Body (AGB) meeting on 21 June, where Shwetha Menon and her entire executive committee announced their resignations amid mounting opposition from a section of members. The AGB subsequently approved a nine-member ad hoc committee — headed by Congress MLA Ramesh Pisharody and including former five-time MLA K.B. Ganesh Kumar — to steer the organisation until elections are held.

Shwetha Menon's counter-claim

Responding through a detailed social media statement after the ad hoc committee convened in Kochi on Friday, Shwetha rejected the new arrangement outright. She argued that under AMMA's by-laws, an outgoing executive committee continues to exercise administrative authority until a successor is formally elected. She further alleged that the ad hoc committee has no legal standing, accusing what she described as 'vested interests' of attempting to mislead members and seize control of the organisation.

Shwetha also disclosed that a group of 10 to 15 members had arrived at the 21 June meeting with a pre-prepared resolution demanding the resignation of her committee. She claimed the resolution — which she characterised as containing baseless allegations — failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority required under the association's by-laws, and therefore carried no legal validity. She added that she would no longer stay silent in the face of repeated attempts to damage her reputation.

The Mohanlal precedent and why it is contested

The dispute has revived comparisons with last year's leadership transition, when the executive committee headed by veteran actor Mohanlal resigned in the wake of the Hema Committee controversy. Members aligned with Shwetha argue that Mohanlal's outgoing committee was permitted to continue in a caretaker capacity after stepping down, and contend that the same convention is being denied to the present committee.

Supporters of the ad hoc arrangement, however, point to a key distinction: while Mohanlal's committee stepped down voluntarily following external pressure, Shwetha announced her resignation dramatically at the 21 June AGB at the precise moment a no-confidence motion against her leadership was about to be taken up — a circumstance they argue is materially different.

What happens next

Backers of the ad hoc committee contend that the unanimous approval granted by the General Body gives the interim arrangement a clear mandate. The competing claims over organisational authority set the stage for a potential legal and institutional battle over who controls AMMA until fresh elections are conducted. The outcome could have broader implications for governance standards within Malayalam film industry bodies.