This is a historic moment for the Malayalam cinema industry. Veteran actress Shwetha Menon has scripted a new chapter by becoming the first female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).
Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes: Creating history in Malayalam cinema, renowned actress and model Shwetha Menon was elected as the first female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) on Thursday. This election proves to be a milestone not only for the organization but for the entire Indian film industry.
Victory with 159 Votes
In the AMMA election, Shwetha Menon secured the position of president by defeating her rival actor Devan. She received a total of 159 votes, while Devan secured 132 votes. A total of 298 members voted, in which Shwetha won with a clear majority. After the victory, Shwetha said: You had said that AMMA needs female leadership and today that day has come. My goal is to unite the organization and take steps towards improvement.
Shwetha Menon clarified that her first objective is to bring unity within the organization. She said that she will personally try to call back the members who have left AMMA due to disagreements. Along with this, she expressed her desire to cooperate with the members of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), considering them as part of the family. This stance of hers is being considered a big step towards positive change in the Malayalam film industry.
A New Era for AMMA
In the election, Kukku Parameswaran was elected as the General Secretary, who received 172 votes. At the same time, Lakshmipriya became the Vice President and she secured 139 votes. Shwetha said in her speech: There is no discrimination in cinema. There are only characters here. An artist's life is confined between 'action' and 'cut'. With her victory, a new era has begun for AMMA, where female leadership has got a place at the top position for the first time.
Shwetha Menon's Career
Shwetha Menon is a versatile artist, who has created a special identity in modeling, films and television.
- She started her career with modeling in the early 1990s.
- Participated in the Femina Miss India competition in 1994 and made it to the top 5.
- She started her acting career with the Malayalam film Anaswaram.
- Appeared in Hindi cinema films like Bandhan, Ishq and Ashoka.
- She won the Kerala State Film Award for her b performances in Malayalam cinema films like Paleri Manikyam and Salt N Pepper.
- Her popularity and experience have made her a b and trustworthy face in the industry.
In August 2024, veteran actor Mohanlal had resigned from the post of president of AMMA. After his resignation, a state of uncertainty remained in the organization for about a year. Mohanlal's resignation came amid growing allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. This matter had deeply shaken the industry.
Hema Committee Report and Controversy
These allegations were investigated by Justice K. Hema Committee. The report revealed that:
- The working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry are very bad.
- About 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors dominate and control the entire industry.
- Women do not get equal opportunities and a safe environment.
After the report, many actresses had filed complaints. Due to this controversy, the entire 17-member executive committee, including Mohanlal, had resigned. The government also, taking the seriousness of the issue into consideration, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and released a summary version of the report.
