Malayalam Film Artists Association | AMMA’s moment of reckoning
K on issues of women in Malayalam film industry. With more skeletons coming out about sexual exploitation after the release of the Hema Committee report, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMAMA) is facing its biggest litmus test yet. Three decades long existence. Almost a week after the Kerala High Court allowed the Left Democratic Front government to release the revised form of the report, the actors’ association’s executive committee was dissolved amid mounting revelations of sexual harassment and harassment experienced by many women members. – Billion dollar industry.
A communication shared with the media after an emergency online meeting of the 17-member committee led by president and actor Mohanlal on August 27 said they were resigning “following the release of the Hema Committee report and widespread media attention on sexual harassment allegations.” against some officials.”
The decision to dissolve the executive committee was triggered by actor Siddiqui’s resignation from the post of general secretary on August 25 over allegations of sexual harassment by a female actor. Since then, actors who have been booked by the Kerala police for sexual harassment include Mukesh, an MLA from the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Former general secretary of the association Siddique and Edavela Babu; and actors Jayasuriya, Manyanpilla Raju and Sudheesh.
Seismic tremors of revelations brought focus on the association in 1994 after several actors voiced their support for an organization to protect the interests of the fraternity. The first of its kind in the Malayalam film industry, it was registered under the Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act in Travancore. About 80 actors participated in the first official meeting held in May 1994 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Actors MG Somen and TP Madhavan were the first president and editor respectively. Late senior actor and comedian Innocent was the longest serving president as he was in charge for almost 18 years since 2000. Veteran actors Mammootty and Mohanlal had earlier served as secretaries. Today, the association has a total of 506 members including 250 women. They enjoy the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting to elect the Executive Committee for a term of three years.
According to the association’s website, “a person acting full-time in a feature film for less than one year shall become a life member on payment of certain fees”. The 17-member executive committee includes four women, although none of them have been elected president or editor so far. It has always tried to “move away from the trade union tag by proclaiming its welfare agenda,” as Mohanlal reiterated while addressing the media amid heavy rain in Thiruvananthapuram on August 31.
main objective
According to the association’s bye-laws, the main objects of the organization were “to promote better relations between the members and other associations; to create and develop fellowship among the members; to enrich the economic condition of the members; and from a fund separately maintained for this purpose or from any other fund as may be prescribed.” Assisting them during retirement/hardship. ₹5,000 monthly stipend is provided to the members who are suffering from health related ailments. Cashless accident and health insurance coverage is provided to the members, the society Since its inception it has relied on the ‘star value’ of its members and organized several stage shows at home and abroad to raise funds.
The association had a smooth run in its initial term after the leadership stayed away from major controversies. However, the decision to do a stage show with a private television channel in March 2004 invited protests from the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. The apex body of the Malayalam film industry noted that cinema penetration has declined as audiences stick to television to watch such programmes. Despite similar opposition in later years, the association continued its programs for television channels to raise funds for its various activities.
It dealt a blow to its public appeal after acclaimed actor Thilakan was expelled in April 2010 for his outbursts against its functioning and his criticism of undue control over the functioning of a lobby led by “superstars”. Although it did not name names, the Hema committee report touched on the ordeal she faced and noted “the existence of a power group in the Malayalam film industry”. “If any person, knowingly or unknowingly disturbs any member of power group for any stupid reason, he can be banned (sic),” it said.
The association suffered a legal setback in 2017 after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) held the Kerala Film Employees Federation liable for indulging in anti-competitive practices by asking artistes, technicians and producers not to work with filmmakers. formation In his petition, the director sought CCI’s intervention to remove the ban imposed on him by film companies for speaking out against his unfair practices. Of the total fine of ₹11.25 lakh imposed by the CCI on the violators, the association was asked to pay ₹4 lakh.
Turbulent episode
A misstep by the association triggered several tense episodes from within after actor Dileep was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a female actor in a moving vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017 in Kochi. The decision to reinstate Dileep, who was expelled after being accused of kidnapping and sexual assault, led to the resignation of survivors and members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), including actresses Reema Kalingal, Remya Nambisan. and filmmaker Geetu Mohandas.
The association had opposed a petition by the WCC before the Kerala High Court seeking compliance with the Vishaka Guidelines and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work (Prevention, Prohibition and Remedies) Act, 2013. It is stated that “AMAMA is only an association of artists and not an employer and therefore its activities do not fall under the definition of workplace”.
Although the association formed an ICC in March 2022, it was short-lived after three of its women members resigned in May 2022 to protest the leadership’s soft treatment of actor-producer Vijay Babu, who was accused of raping a female actor and later revealed. by doing A similar flip-flop was evident in its position in the Hema Committee report, although a political storm following its publication forced the association to come out in support after being condemned for its perceived silence. As the cry for a safe and non-discriminatory workplace in the film industry grows louder, the actors’ body is definitely at a crossroads with a change.
