Mohanlal breaks silence: Not part of power group (cited in Hema report); AMMA alone should not be crucified

“I welcome the report. I had turned up before the committee and shared everything I know. I haven’t seen the committee report. I have heard about it only from the media. I am not a member of the power group (mentioned in the report). The report mentioned several issues. The entire Malayalam film industry is answerable. AMMA is not answerable for all issues,” he said.

He said all people in the industry should speak. “AMMA alone should not be crucified. A lot of organisations are involved. But only we are facing the questions,” he said.

Mohanlal raised concerns that “this is a matter destroying the industry. We had toiled a lot to take the industry to the present stature. Please, do not destroy the industry by just focusing on this issue. AMMA is facing the questions. I haven’t run away from the issue. I was away from Kerala and was busy with the mixing work of my film, Barroz, and wife’s surgery.’’

On the issue of several film professionals facing criminal cases, Mohanlal said, “There is a government. Police are after those who committed mistakes, and there is a court. Tens of thousands of people are working in the industry. It should move ahead. We want to save the industry. We can talk about the mistakes later… If people have issues, they can approach the police… The report talks about how to take the industry forward,” he said.

“I Don’t know what happened. There are about 21 organisations in Malayalam cinema. What I can say if a response is sought only from AMMA. I know you (the media) have a lot of questions, but why should I respond to an issue that is before the court. There should be efforts to ensure that such complaints do not emerge anymore,” he said.

Mohanlal said he wanted similar committees to come up in all sectors. “We had a big landslide and we are surviving that tragedy. If this industry collapses, a lot of people will be left helpless. Junior artistes should also have an association to address their issues. We should ensure that the industry does not collapse,” he said.

He said AMMA is not a trade union, and that it exists only for the welfare of its members.

Earlier this week, the 17-member executive of AMMA had resigned en bloc in the wake of the scandals that emerged after the Hema committee report’s release.