Hema Justice Committee Report: Mohanlal and others leave actors’ association

Kochi Islands: The Malayalam film industry continues to be in the news following the explosive revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report as AMMA chairman Mohanlal and the executive committee members resigned on Tuesday amid a series of sexual allegations against several members.

In an unexpected turn of events, the influential actors’ organisation (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) issued a press release announcing the mass resignation of its officials, including president Mohanlal.

The veteran actor, in his capacity as chairman, is said to have convened an online meeting of his members to discuss the association’s unprecedented dilemma, before taking the decision to resign en masse from the executive panel members.

In a statement, the association later said that the current board panel had resigned, taking moral responsibility for the allegations.

Following the publication of the Hema Justice Commission report, some AMMA officials faced allegations of sexual harassment in social, visual and print media. Therefore, the current executive panel resigns and takes its moral responsibility, it explained.

The new board panel would be elected within two months of the convening of a general meeting, it was said. It was also said that the outgoing panel would continue to function as a temporary system to continue the association’s various ongoing programs unabated until the next general meeting.

“We hope that AMMA will have a new leadership that is able to reform and strengthen the association. Thanks to everyone who criticizes and corrects (us),” the statement added.

Meanwhile, many actors, especially women, welcomed the resignation of the AMMA board members.

Renowned actress Shwetha Menon said she was happy with the executive panel’s decision and hoped that the organisation would get new leadership who would be able to take forward the various ongoing programmes.

She said that a young actor like Prithviraj has the qualities to lead the association.

“I think Raju (Prithviraj) will be a future president. I think he has the capacity… the calibre for that,” she told the media.

Menon also said that she felt sad to see a great actor like Mohanlal going through so much stress due to the developments.

Another veteran actor, Usha, said that AMMA as an organisation was very good but some members of the executive committee were troublemakers.

“A new panel, which can address women’s concerns and to which female actors can courageously present their issues and discuss them openly, should be placed at the top positions of the organization,” she said.

Senior dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi also welcomed the resignation of the AMMA panel and said it was their responsibility after the sexual allegations and accusations levelled against the members.

The release of the Justice K Hema Commission report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry has sparked a storm of protest. Several female actors have come forward with disturbing stories of abuse they faced at the hands of their male counterparts.

Following these allegations, the government announced the creation of a special investigation team of seven members to investigate the allegations made following the publication of the Hema Justice Commission report.

After that, more complaints were filed against many actors and directors.

The report by the Justice Hema Committee, set up by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress sexual assault case, has revealed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

PTI