Internal feud rocks AMMA, calls for change at helm grow louder

Kochi: The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has again plunged into turmoil as serious allegations and internal rebellions threaten to disrupt the functioning of the organization. The latest controversy erupted following grave remarks made by Drishyam 3 actor Ansiba Hasan against executive committee member Tini Tom, triggering a series of complaints and public spats among prominent members.

The unrest began when Hasan accused Tom of targeting her with severe character assassination and communal abuse. She alleged that Tom spread false rumours about her personal life and branded her a "jihadi", and that a lack of support from AMMA’s office-bearers ultimately forced her to resign as its joint secretary.

While AMMA’s executive committee accepted her resignation, it opened floodgates of allegations. Close on the heels of the executive committee meeting, senior actor and executive member Neena Kurup too lodged a formal complaint with the association against Tom, alleging physical and verbal misconduct during the organisational members’ family reunion in Feb.

However, the internal rift took a highly personal turn when actor Lakshmi Priya openly blamed Kurup for the escalating chaos. The AMMA vice-president alleged that Kurup was the root cause of the current friction within the association, effectively shifting the spotlight from the initial institutional complaints to a bitter, public war of words between the members. She pointed towards “deep-seated factions” within the association, naming general secretary Cuckoo Parameswaran, and claimed that president Shwetha Menon was not being properly informed of the developments.

As the controversy deepens, demands for a systemic overhaul are also growing louder. Actor and activist Maala Parvathi has demanded an “immediate change” in leadership. Parvathi argued that the recurring controversies and the leadership’s “inability” to maintain internal harmony demonstrate a dire need for fresh faces and a progressive mindset at AMMA’s helm.

“The current state of affairs is unsustainable. AMMA desperately needs a change atop to restore its integrity and address the genuine grievances of its members,” she said.

With complaints piling up and members divided into warring factions, the current executive committee faces unprecedented pressure. Menon told a news channel that the priority now was the general body meeting next month. Refusing to make any public statement, she said she would convey her stance on all issues in the meeting, though she admitted “communication issues” within the organisation.