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After a long period of silence, during which he faced criticism for not speaking out, Malayalam megastar Mammootty has finally addressed the Justice Hema Committee report and the sexual misconduct allegations made by several survivors against male members of the industry, including those in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). While expressing that he and his fellow actors “wholeheartedly welcome and support the recommendations and solutions outlined in that report,” Mammootty also dismissed the panel’s claim that a dominant “power group” exists in the Malayalam film industry.
The report had strongly argued that a powerful and privileged group of 10-15 men, who hold significant influence in Malayalam cinema, control the industry. This group allegedly enforces bans on certain actors and turns a blind eye when women report harassment.
Amid the accusations, retaliations and preparations for legal battles, the resignation of the AMMA executive committee members, including president Mohanlal, has put the organisation in a challenging position. While some people viewed the mass resignation as a positive step, hoping it would bring in younger, more effective leadership and rejuvenate the organisation, others felt that resigning en masse was not the appropriate response, as it seemed like a betrayal of the members who had elected them.
Meanwhile, B Unnikrishnan, film director and the general secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) —another influential organisation linked to Malayalam cinema — recently revealed that Mammootty had suggested turning AMMA into a trade union, moving beyond its current role as a welfare association.
“Unlike FEFKA, AMMA lacks a trade union-like system that ensures its unity. This led to members expressing different opinions during the time (leading up to the executive committee’s resignation), which also attracted widespread criticism from the public and media. Unfortunately, AMMA does not have the organisational framework to engage with or respond to such criticisms. Mohanlal too is not flexible regarding organisational matters, which likely led to his desire to step down. Given this situation, other members also decided to resign, though somewhat reluctantly,” Unnikrishnan explained during an interview with Manorama News.
Highlighting the significance of AMMA’s current situation, Unnikrishnan said, “It remains to be seen how the association will evolve from this point. It might undergo a complete revival and emerge as a strong force that protects its members and provides them with all necessary facilities.”
“Mammootty has repeatedly suggested converting the actors’ association into a trade union. I believe this idea deserves serious consideration. They could implement this while maintaining the organisation’s existing identity. I’ve always wondered why they don’t view acting as a profession and establish a trade union-like system,” he added.
Unnikrishnan’s revelation about Mammootty’s suggestion is particularly pertinent now, as Mohanlal, speaking to the media for the first time since stepping down as AMMA president, stated on Saturday that AMMA is not a trade union.
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