Malayalam film actors body AMMA governing council resigns after infighting

The 17-member governing council of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), including its first female president Shweta Menon, has resigned. The decision came during a general body meeting on Sunday, prompted by severe infighting and accusations of financial mismanagement within the influential actors' body.

Shweta Menon also resigned from her primary membership, stating her belief that there was a deliberate "agenda to remove us from our positions." This abrupt move occurred less than a year after Menon and Kukku Parameswaran were elected president and general secretary, marking the first time women held the top two leadership roles in AMMA.

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agenda to remove us from our positions

The resignation followed a no-confidence motion initiated by a faction of AMMA members. They alleged the council failed to maintain proper financial accounting and ensure the smooth operation of daily affairs. The Menon-led council chose to step down proactively before the motion could be formally presented.

Actor Jagadish, a member of the outgoing governing body, acknowledged organizational shortcomings, possibly due to inexperience. He noted that the council struggled to present financial accounts properly, partly because the treasurer was on leave. Jagadish also pointed to personal disputes among members that leaked to the media, damaging AMMA's public image.

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The existing committee took a lot of steps for the welfare of the outfit in the last few months. But there were some organisational lapses on their part too. Maybe, it could be due to their inexperience.

Menon, however, refuted the financial mismanagement claims, asserting that her council handled accounts properly. She alleged a conspiracy to oust them, contrasting their financial record with that of the previous council. Menon, who took office on August 15, 2025, for a three-year term, had previously won against actor Devan. Her election came after AMMA faced allegations of sexual harassment linked to the Hema panel report on women's working conditions in the Malayalam film industry.

An ad-hoc committee, to be led by actor-director Ramesh Pisharody, will assume control. This committee will oversee the organization for the next three months, making key decisions regarding the next general body meeting and fresh elections.

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There was a clear agenda to push us out of our positions. All the financial accounts under our committee are in proper shape. But the accounts under the previous council led by Baburaj were not in the right shape. If we don’t remain as puppets in the hands of certain individuals, we cannot run this organisation. That’s what I have understood.