ArtistDirect News
Shweta Menon Resigns as AMMA President; Executive Committee Steps Down Amid Financial and Internal Disputes
Shweta Menon, the first woman to lead the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), tendered her resignation on Sunday, 21 June 2026, together with the entire 17‑member executive committee. The move followed a fiery annual general body meeting in Kochi, where heated arguments over the association’s financial statements and accusations of misconduct among members boiled over.
Elected in 2025, a year after AMMA’s 32‑year history began in 1994, Menon had pushed for greater transparency in a body long criticized for opaque accounting. Yet the meeting exposed persistent gaps. General secretary Cuckoo Parameswaran presented the receipts and payments statement, which veteran actors Siddique and Edavela Babu, among others, challenged for its lack of clarity. When the document failed to secure approval, the discussion stalled, and the atmosphere grew tense.
In a brief statement to reporters, Menon said she could not continue under the circumstances. “There are attempts to take the association into the hands of people who are facing allegations. I cannot remain as a puppet,” she told the press after announcing her resignation. The decision came in the wake of veteran actor Jagadish’s claim that the committee had failed to present the accounts transparently and that internal disputes were being thrust into the media, thereby damaging AMMA’s reputation.
The executive committee’s collective resignation appears to have been a pre‑emptive measure to avert a no‑confidence motion that some members were reportedly preparing. According to reports, the motion would have challenged the leadership’s authority, but the committee chose to step down before it could be tabled.
An ad‑hoc committee was formed to oversee AMMA’s operations until fresh elections can be held. Actor and Member of the Legislative Assembly Ramesh Pisharody will chair the temporary panel, while actor Baburaj confirmed the interim committee’s creation after the meeting.
The turmoil unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny for AMMA. In 2024, the Hema Committee report, an advisory panel set up by the Kerala government in 2017, exposed widespread sexual harassment, pay disparity and other systemic issues in the Malayalam film industry. The report led to several allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent actors, prompting calls for greater accountability within industry bodies.
Former AMMA president Mohanlal issued a statement urging unity among members. His own committee had stepped down in 2024 following the Hema Committee report’s release. The association has faced criticism for its handling of cases involving members accused of misconduct.
Internal divisions have deepened over time. A source cited by the Indian Express noted that factions within AMMA, including a lobby led by actor Dileep—who was acquitted in a 2017 assault case—and other actors accused of sexual misconduct, have made decision‑making difficult. The source added that despite electing a woman president, the organization remained largely male‑led.
The latest conflict was sparked by actress Ansiba Hassan’s complaint against actor Tini Tom over alleged character assassination. The issue led to disagreements within AMMA, with some members questioning the association’s handling of the matter. A gag order issued by AMMA, which asked actors not to make media statements on the issue, faced opposition from a section of members.
With the executive committee’s resignation and the interim committee in place, AMMA now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust among its members while addressing long‑standing internal disagreements. Fresh elections are expected to be scheduled once the ad‑hoc committee completes its interim mandate.
The resignation of Shweta Menon and her executive team marks a significant setback for AMMA, highlighting the need for clearer governance structures and transparent financial practices in Malayalam cinema’s actors’ association.
Elected in 2025, a year after AMMA’s 32‑year history began in 1994, Menon had pushed for greater transparency in a body long criticized for opaque accounting. Yet the meeting exposed persistent gaps. General secretary Cuckoo Parameswaran presented the receipts and payments statement, which veteran actors Siddique and Edavela Babu, among others, challenged for its lack of clarity. When the document failed to secure approval, the discussion stalled, and the atmosphere grew tense.
In a brief statement to reporters, Menon said she could not continue under the circumstances. “There are attempts to take the association into the hands of people who are facing allegations. I cannot remain as a puppet,” she told the press after announcing her resignation. The decision came in the wake of veteran actor Jagadish’s claim that the committee had failed to present the accounts transparently and that internal disputes were being thrust into the media, thereby damaging AMMA’s reputation.
The executive committee’s collective resignation appears to have been a pre‑emptive measure to avert a no‑confidence motion that some members were reportedly preparing. According to reports, the motion would have challenged the leadership’s authority, but the committee chose to step down before it could be tabled.
An ad‑hoc committee was formed to oversee AMMA’s operations until fresh elections can be held. Actor and Member of the Legislative Assembly Ramesh Pisharody will chair the temporary panel, while actor Baburaj confirmed the interim committee’s creation after the meeting.
The turmoil unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny for AMMA. In 2024, the Hema Committee report, an advisory panel set up by the Kerala government in 2017, exposed widespread sexual harassment, pay disparity and other systemic issues in the Malayalam film industry. The report led to several allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent actors, prompting calls for greater accountability within industry bodies.
Former AMMA president Mohanlal issued a statement urging unity among members. His own committee had stepped down in 2024 following the Hema Committee report’s release. The association has faced criticism for its handling of cases involving members accused of misconduct.
Internal divisions have deepened over time. A source cited by the Indian Express noted that factions within AMMA, including a lobby led by actor Dileep—who was acquitted in a 2017 assault case—and other actors accused of sexual misconduct, have made decision‑making difficult. The source added that despite electing a woman president, the organization remained largely male‑led.
The latest conflict was sparked by actress Ansiba Hassan’s complaint against actor Tini Tom over alleged character assassination. The issue led to disagreements within AMMA, with some members questioning the association’s handling of the matter. A gag order issued by AMMA, which asked actors not to make media statements on the issue, faced opposition from a section of members.
With the executive committee’s resignation and the interim committee in place, AMMA now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust among its members while addressing long‑standing internal disagreements. Fresh elections are expected to be scheduled once the ad‑hoc committee completes its interim mandate.
The resignation of Shweta Menon and her executive team marks a significant setback for AMMA, highlighting the need for clearer governance structures and transparent financial practices in Malayalam cinema’s actors’ association.