In a dramatic turn of events, the entire 17-member executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), including its president, superstar Mohanlal, resigned on Tuesday. This decision follows the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which uncovered widespread sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.
Serious Allegations Of Abuse In Mollywood
The report, which had been kept under wraps since 2019, was made public last week after overcoming legal challenges from industry members. It revealed serious allegations of abuse against several prominent figures in Mollywood, including actors Siddique and Baburaj, and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.
AMMA Executive Committee’s Statement
In a statement, the AMMA executive committee expressed their decision to step down, stating, “Following the release of the Hema Committee report and the sexual allegations faced by certain office bearers within the executive committee, we have decided to resign. We are taking this step to uphold our moral responsibility.” The AMMA statement also announced that a general body meeting will be held within two months to elect a new governing body. Until then, the current committee will continue in an ad-hoc capacity to manage welfare measures and office matters.
Prithviraj Criticizes AMMA For Lack Of Action
The scandal has led to significant backlash from within the film industry. Actor Prithviraj criticized AMMA for its lack of action on the allegations, noting the existence of a powerful group within the industry. Vice President Jagadish also called for an investigation and condemned the trivialization of the abuse claims as “stray incidents.”
Siddique And Baburaj Face Sexual Assault Accusations
The controversy first erupted when Siddique, the AMMA general secretary, resigned last week following allegations of sexual assault. Baburaj, who was AMMA’s joint general secretary, also faced similar accusations. The allegations include a claim from a junior artiste who accused Baburaj of rape in 2019. Baburaj has denied the allegations, calling them false and claiming they are meant to damage his career.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan Announces Special Investigation Team
The report and subsequent resignations have sparked wider scrutiny, including political attacks. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the charges. The film industry is now facing intense scrutiny, and AMMA’s leadership shakeup is seen as a critical step in addressing the issues raised by the Hema Committee report. The resignation of Mohanlal and his team marks a significant moment for Malayalam cinema as it confronts these serious allegations and strives for reform.