A chaotic general bodies meeting at AMMA set off a storm and its president Shwetha Menon and the entire executive committee resigned. Now the Malayalam movie industry has been rocked and the question of who will run the powerful organization is one that will be the next big thing in the movie industry.
The Kochi meeting was said to have turned into a heated debate over transparency, accountability and representation. Senior artists and committee members’ heated arguments turned into an all-out war and the mass resignation was precipitated. Financial management and decision-making processes were at the heart of the dispute, the sources said.
Shwetha Menon, as president who promised reform and inclusivity, was disappointed at the turn of events. She admitted the challenge of bringing together diverse voices in AMMA but said she moved out in the best interest of the association and the new leadership needs to come forward. ‘The AMMA needs to be united and be able to talk to each other,’ she said.
The resignation of all executive committee members is a rare event for AMMA. The assembly of hundreds of actors and technicians of the Malayalam film industry has been at the centre of controversies on welfare, gender equality and industry ethics. The recent episode indicates the frictions in the fraternity and the need for structural change.
The recent resignations could lead to the formation of a new leadership team that will be more attuned to the changing needs of Malayalam cinema. And the changes in AMMA are expected to change the way AMMA will be structured in the future in light of these resignations so the new generation of young people who want more transparency and inclusivity as leadership in Malayalam cinema need to work towards that. But the industry has not been led by senior figures so the sudden leadership vacuum could inhibit the association from dealing with issues of artists’ health and industry conflicts as well, some say.
The general body is expected to meet again soon to discuss the way forward -- and to appoint an interim committee to take the case until fresh elections are held. Senior members of AMMA have urged calm and cooperation, and to be a loud and proud voice for the Malayalam film industry.
Shwetha Menon’s resignation and the executive committee’s departure were indicative of the problems and opportunities of AMMA. The stormy meeting exposed divisions but also opened the doors for renewal and reform. These next few weeks will see if the association can regain trust and be an umbrella organization to help Malayalam cinema.
