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The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has been rocked by a wave of sexual harassment allegations, leading to the dissolution of its executive committee and the resignation of its president, Mohanlal. The move comes in response to a growing chorus of voices calling for accountability within the Malayalam film industry, where women have long spoken of facing harassment and abuse. The decision to dissolve the committee was made during an emergency online meeting, with all 17 members, including Mohanlal, submitting their resignations. The committee, which had been elected in June 2024 and was set to serve until 2027, has been disbanded following serious allegations against its members, including those holding executive positions.
The catalyst for the resignations was the release of the K. Hema Committee report, which investigated the problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The report highlighted a culture of impunity for perpetrators of sexual harassment, leading to calls for immediate action. Actor Siddique, who served as the general secretary of AMMA, resigned on Sunday following allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by actress Revathy Sampath. This incident further amplified the pressure on the association to take decisive steps to address the issue. Several actors, including Prithviraj, had publicly demanded that those facing allegations step down from their positions, adding further fuel to the fire.
The current ad-hoc committee will manage the association's day-to-day affairs until a new executive committee is formed within the next two months. The new committee will be elected following a general body election. This move signals a significant shift in the power dynamics within AMMA and reflects a growing awareness of the need to address the issue of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. While the dissolution of the existing committee is a positive step, the focus now shifts to the formation of a new committee that is committed to ensuring a safe and equitable environment for all members of the industry, particularly women.