Hema Committee report: Mohanlal exits as AMMA president along with entire committee

Veteran actor Mohanlal shocked the Malayalam film industry on Tuesday by resigning from his position as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The sudden decision, announced on Tuesday afternoon, has left many in the industry stunned.

Along with Mohanlal, the entire 17-member executive committee of AMMA also tendered their resignations, marking a significant upheaval in the association.

The official statement from AMMA highlighted the reasons for this drastic step. ¡°AMMA has decided to disperse the executive committee on moral grounds in the light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee members. A new committee will be formed after an election within two months,¡± the statement read.

This decision comes in the wake of the release of the Hema Committee report, which has brought to light various allegations of sexual misconduct within the Malayalam film industry.

The report, published on August 19, has triggered a wave of accusations from several female actors against prominent figures in the industry, leading to the current crisis within AMMA.

Background and significance of Justice Hema Committee

In 2017, the Malayalam film industry was rocked by a shocking incident in which an actress was sexually assaulted. In response, the Kerala government established a three-member commission to investigate the issues faced by women in the industry.

The commission was led by Justice K Hema (retired), with former bureaucrat KB Valsalakumari and veteran actress Sharada as the other members.

Hema Committe Report
byu/LocalDude_ inInsideMollywood

The Hema Committee was officially appointed by the Kerala government in 2019 with the specific task of investigating the harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment experienced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

The committee's report, submitted on December 31, 2019, remained under wraps until it was finally made public on August 19, 2024. The contents of the report have sent shockwaves through the industry, revealing the extent of the challenges faced by women in the sector and prompting a series of resignations and accusations.

Sexual misconduct allegations stir Malayalam film industry

Since the release of the Hema Committee report, several prominent actors and directors in the Malayalam film industry have been accused of sexual misconduct. The list of those named in these allegations includes actors Siddique, Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Baburaj. Directors Ranjith, VK Prakash, and Thulasidas have also been implicated.

The controversy began when actor Siddique was accused of sexual misconduct by junior artiste Revathy Sampath. Siddique, who held the position of General Secretary of AMMA, has since stepped down. Another junior artiste has accused actor Baburaj, who served as the Joint Secretary of AMMA, of sexually abusing her at his residence in Kerala in 2019.

Among the most serious allegations are those made by actress Minu Muneer, who on Monday accused actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Edavela Babu of sexual harassment. Mukesh, a two-term MLA from Kollam representing the CPI(M), is one of the highest-profile figures named in the allegations. Additionally, actress Gayathri Vasha has come forward in support of Minu Muneer, accusing Maniyanpilla Raju of inappropriate behavior.

In the midst of these accusations, actress Sonia Malhar clarified that although she was sexually abused by an actor in 2013, she was not referring to actor Jayasurya, despite rumors to the contrary. The actress had initially refrained from naming the actor, but speculation arose due to her past work with Jayasurya in 2013.

As the situation escalated, AMMA postponed its scheduled Executive Committee Meeting, citing Mohanlal's unavailability. So far, most of the accused actors have remained silent on the matter, choosing not to comment on the allegations.

Prithviraj should take on the leadership role now considering his clarity of thought ¡­ haven¡¯t seen or heard mohanlal or mammotty in this crisis moment .. pic.twitter.com/hTx1Eh7GrI

¡ª raga-learns-to-rock (@pnamblat) August 26, 2024

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, however, addressed the issue on Monday, emphasizing the need for serious investigations into the allegations. He stated, "If allegations have been made, thorough investigations need to be followed up with, and if these investigations lead to the allegation being proven right, there have to be exemplary punishments handed out. On the other side, if the allegations are false, even then there should be exemplary punishments. Either way, these allegations need to be treated with utmost seriousness, and I hope this is the beginning of a process that will clear up everything in front of us."

Also Read: MeToo rocks Malayalam movie industry as more skeletons tumble out of closet after Hema Committee report

On the other hand, actor-turned-politician and Union Minister Suresh Gopi criticized the media's handling of the situation, accusing them of sensationalizing the issue for profit. He remarked, "This is all food for you, is what I understand. You can use it to make money. (There is) no problem with that. But these issues are before the court, and it has the intelligence and logic to arrive at a decision regarding them."

As the Malayalam film industry grapples with these developments, the focus remains on how the allegations will be addressed and what impact they will have on the future of AMMA and its leadership.

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