Former AMMA office-bearer Joy Mathew claims ongoing issue not as big as Dileep’s; WCC says ‘We have a shared duty to forge a future of justice and dignity for everyone’

Mentioning that he does not think that AMMA office bearers resigned en masse due to shame, director Vinayan stated that he takes no pleasure in seeing AMMA weakened. Vinayan suggested that those who have not previously held the positions of president or secretary should assume leadership roles. In an interview with Mathrubhumi News, Vinayan said he viewed the current changes positively, as a sign of a shift towards more democratic thinking.

Actor Joy Mathew, one of the AMMA executive committee members who resigned, announced that he would not participate in the conclave proposed by the state government to discuss the findings of the Hema Committee report. He noted, however, that an ad hoc committee should make decisions regarding the association’s stance on this. Previously, under the former committee’s leadership, AMMA had stated it would not attend the conclave. Mathew also emphasised that the industry should implement the Hema Committee report’s recommendations moving forward. He further predicted that Mohanlal might return as AMMA’s president if he is willing.

When reporters asked about the silence of stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty, Mathew explained that the association’s office-bearers were also speaking on their behalf, as they are members of AMMA. “Is the Chief Minister the only person who details all plans of the government? Other ministers do too, right? The CM only addresses the most important matters. In this case, the issue at hand isn’t that serious,” he said speaking to the media. “Malayalam cinema has faced bigger troubles. The current one is not as big as the Dileep issue. He was AMMA’s treasurer at the time,” Mathew said, referring to Dileep’s arrest for allegedly masterminding the 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case. Mathew further stated that such allegations won’t bring down the association entirely. He also criticised the state government and Cultural Affairs Minister for delaying the release of the Justice Hema Committee report for four and a half years. Mathew remarked that Mukesh, accused of sexual misconduct, should step down from his position as a legislator while under investigation if he holds the moral values of AMMA.

Actor Shammi Thilakan, a long-time critic of AMMA like his father and veteran actor Thilakan, condemned the mass resignation as a betrayal of those who elected the committee members. He viewed the resignation as a sign of the association’s failure to provide answers. “Regardless of whether the person is big or small, the association should be willing to correct anyone who makes a mistake. This is why I have always raised my voice in the organisation. Those who speak up should not be suppressed. As Sree Narayana Guru said, we must look in the mirror and understand ourselves. If someone maintains a casteist mindset while being part of an organisation, such problems will arise. The association has harboured a casteist mindset for a long time. I have evidence to prove it. I have documents in hand,” he said.

Meanwhile, actor Gayathri Varsha expressed great satisfaction over the resignation of AMMA’s leadership. Recalling that she cancelled her AMMA membership the same year she joined, in 1995, Gayathri argued that an association unable to stand up for its members’ rights cannot survive, no matter how much effort is made to sustain it. She stressed that AMMA requires more than just the basics and guidelines of a welfare association; it should possess characteristics similar to those of a trade union.

While dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi called for 50 per cent female representation in the next executive committee, actor Shwetha Menon opined that younger actors like Prithviraj Sukumaran should lead the organization in the future.

Director Ashiq Abu welcomed the prospect of a new governing body taking over AMMA, expressing optimism about the recent developments. Acknowledging that AMMA is a great organisation that helps many people, he urged that those who were banned or excluded be brought back into the fold during the formation of a new executive committee. He also called for an end to imposing bans and prohibitions on individuals.

Actor-dancer Krishna Praba, on the other hand, said that discussions painting all AMMA members in a negative light were hurtful. She lamented that it is unfair to portray all members in a bad light. “Many senior actors eagerly depend on AMMA’s monthly pension. Don’t jeopardise their only source of income,” she wrote on social media.

From the homepage

‘Time to decriminalise all this’: Supreme Court signals rethink on criminal defamation

‘Unfortunate’: SC slams reports suggesting ‘pilot error’ led to Air India crash, issues notice on plea seeking independent probe

As GST 2.0 kicks in: what changes for consumers and industry