Actor alleges attempt by accused individuals to ‘hijack’ the association; Ramesh Pisharody appointed to head new ad-hoc panel.
DUBAI: In a major upheaval rocking the Malayalam film industry, the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), led by prominent actor Shweta Menon, resigned en masse on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The mass resignation comes on the heels of intense internal friction, financial discrepancies, and a sudden no-confidence motion moved against the leadership during a chaotic general body meeting.
The 17-member governing body decided to step down after a turbulent session where members openly questioned the annual report and financial statements presented by general secretary Kukku Parameswaran. Adding to the friction, treasurer Unni Shivpal—who had recently been asked to go on leave following a workplace harassment complaint filed by an AMMA employee—refused to take responsibility for the organization’s financial records.
The dramatic meeting, which was officially inaugurated earlier in the day by veteran actor Mohanlal, saw heated exchanges among the members. Senior actors and former office-bearers, including Sidhique, Edavela Babu, and Baburaj, strictly opposed passing the annual report until alleged discrepancies in financial transactions were fully rectified. Although Shweta Menon requested a 45-day window to investigate the financial matters, her plea was rejected by the general body.
Stepping out of the stormy meeting, Shweta Menon announced not just her resignation from the leadership but also her complete exit from the association. Expressing deep disappointment, she stated that one had to be a “puppet” to run the organization. She further added that she now believes there is an active agenda by certain accused individuals to hijack and push the association into their hands. In response, actor Baburaj dismissed her remarks, claiming that the outgoing committee continuously played the “women’s card” despite failing to address the actual issues faced by female members.
To manage the sudden leadership vacuum, the AMMA general body nominated a temporary ad-hoc committee to oversee day-to-day operations until the next official elections are held. Actor and Palakkad MLA Ramesh Pisharody has been appointed as the convenor of this interim panel. Senior actor Jagadeesh announced the rest of the temporary body, which includes prominent figures like K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Suresh Krishna, Sadique, Rony David, Krishnaprabha, Asha Aravind, Saju Shajohn, and Devi Chandana.
