Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA)
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
A backgrounder
As in 2024
Anandu Suresh, Sep 2, 2024: The Indian Express
Formation and clash with Sukumaran
One of the most powerful organisations associated with Malayalam cinema, AMMA was established in 1994. According to the association’s official website data, AMMA currently has 498 members, including 253 men and 245 women. The organisation also includes 117 honorary members and 381 life members. The first-ever executive committee of AMMA was formed in 1994 for a period of three years with legendary actor MG Soman as president and Mammootty and Mohanlal as vice presidents. However, it included only one female member, Sukumari.
Since its formation, AMMA has been embroiled in various controversies and one of the earliest ones involved veteran actor Sukumaran who strongly criticised the association’s operations. According to screenwriter Kaloor Dennis, writing for Manorama Online, Sukumaran filed a legal case against AMMA in its first year, alleging that “its selection process was faulty”. In retaliation, Dennis noted, the association imposed an unofficial ban on Sukumaran, marking the first of many such bans it has allegedly enforced under different circumstances on various persons. Dennis recounted that the matter was, however, resolved later.
Despite AMMA’s ongoing efforts to portray itself as a welfare organisation that treats all members equally, it has frequently run into controversies due to its in/actions in various matters, as well as its consistently low female representation in executive committees. In the 18-member committee formed in 1997, only three were women. The ratios of female to total members in AMMA’s executive committees for the years 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021, each with a three-year term, were 1/17, 1/17, 2/17, 2/17, 3/17, 2/16, 3/17 and 5/17, respectively.
Dileep’s entry
Actor Dileep’s growth in the Malayalam industry and in AMMA was swift and strong. After spending years in supporting and comedic roles, he transitioned to leading roles, with many of his films becoming blockbusters due to their humour and his skill in slapstick comedy. Initially just a member of the association, he became an executive committee member in 2003 and was elected vice president in the subsequent committee in 2006.
It was then the idea of making a film to raise funds for the association surfaced. Although all members, including Mohanlal and Mammootty, were willing to act without pay, the film still required a substantial budget and a producer capable of taking the risk. Dileep stepped up as the ‘saviour’, taking on the role of producer and main investor. According to Malayalamcinema.com, he invested more than Rs 1 crore into the film’s production, a significant amount for the industry at that time. The film turned out to be a major success, earning Rs 32 crore worldwide, Filmibeat reported. This success further solidified Dileep’s standing within the organisation.
AMMA (Dileep) vs Vinayan
The reason for discussing his rise within the organisation is that the next major controversy involving AMMA reportedly centred around him, ultimately leading to a split in the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association Federation (MACTA). A 2008 report in Rediff.com stated that the issue began when Dileep withdrew from a project titled Kuttananadan Express, which was to be directed by Thulasidas, who too recently faced harassment allegations from two actors. Alleging that Dileep had accepted an advance for the project, Thulasidas approached MACTA, arguing that Dileep left the project due to the failure of his previous film College Kumaran, starring Mohanlal. While MACTA responded by banning Dileep, AMMA rallied behind him, sparking a new conflict.
Following an immediate meeting organised by MACTA, director Siddique criticised general secretary Vinayan over certain remarks and resigned from the outfit. A group of prominent directors, including Fazil, Sathyan Anthikkad, Kamal, Rafi-Mecartin, Shafi, Lal Jose, Ranjith, Joshiy and Siby Malayil, followed suit. Interestingly, most of these directors had previously collaborated with Dileep and Siddique soon went on to make Bodyguard with him. The film that marked Siddique’s return to Malayalam cinema as a helmer after a seven-year hiatus, became a huge hit too.
The departed directors, who already had issues with Vinayan and his policies that mostly aided ‘low profile and neglected’ technicians, united and formed a new organisation. They also received backing from AMMA and the producers’ association. Thus, MACTA was displaced by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA).
The Thilakan effect
However, the first major controversy in AMMA’s history erupted in 2010, involving National Award-winning actor Thilakan, widely regarded as one of the greatest in Malayalam cinema. Thilakan clashed with the organisation over the excessive influence of superstars and he accused AMMA of not protecting his rights when FEFKA purportedly had him removed from several films. The conflict began in 2010 when AMMA’s then-secretary Edavela Babu sent a letter to Thilakan, accusing him of spreading lies and defaming the organisation, and asked for his response. Thilakan countered, pointing out that AMMA’s letter failed to specify when, where and whom he had allegedly insulted. He also criticised AMMA’s lack of response to a FEFKA leader’s actions against him and threats from fans of popular actors. His daughter Sonia told The News Minute that eventually, Thilakan attended a meeting with the executive and disciplinary committees and then his membership was revoked and reportedly banned from AMMA for life.
Nevertheless, Thilakan continued to challenge AMMA. Academic and critic Sukumar Azhikode also supported him. Thilakan argued that AMMA’s operations lacked transparency (an allegation Sukumaran raised over a decade prior), and, as reported by The Hindu, some members of it labelled him as insane. The ban significantly impacted Thilakan’s career, causing him to lose work. He specifically accused Mammootty of collaborating with FEFKA to have him excluded from director Joshiy’s Christian Brothers (2011). According to Thilakan, both FEFKA and Mammootty held a grudge against him for working with director Vinayan, who was known to be at odds with the superstars. Thilakan even went so far as to claim that AMMA was controlled by a mafia, which aligns with Hema Committee’s references to a “power group”. Thilakan frequently stated that a caste-based lobby, led by savarna Hindus, especially Nairs, played a significant role in the industry’s affairs.
He also alleged that young actor Prithviraj Sukumaran was being targeted by powerful figures within the industry who consider him a threat. Prithviraj himself has later acknowledged attempts to sideline him. Thilakan, during that period, also described Dileep as the industry’s most cunning personality — a statement that was validated by Dileep’s 2017 arrest. Director Vinayan has also corroborated these claims in interviews.
According to Mathrubhumi, by the time of Thilakan’s death in 2012, his disputes with AMMA remained unresolved. In an unsympathetic gesture, the organisation excluded his name from the souvenir paying homage to deceased actors — a slight that was later rectified in 2019 after Mohanlal assumed the presidency of AMMA.
Love for Dileep marked the beginning of AMMA’s downfall
Despite taking such harsh measures against Thilakan for alleged indiscipline, AMMA treated Dileep, who faced serious allegations that led to his arrest, far more leniently. Although AMMA expelled Dileep shortly after his arrest, they reinstated him after he was granted conditional bail. This decision prompted several members, including the survivor, to resign. Actor Ganesh Kumar, currently Kerala’s Transport Minister, told Times of India then that there was no reason for AMMA to cancel Dileep’s primary membership. Siddique, the then AMMA secretary, defended the reinstatement, arguing, “We must remember that he is an accused and has not been found guilty yet.”
Meanwhile, both Siddique and actors Bhama and Edavela Babu, who were initially prosecution witnesses in Dileep’s 2017 case, later changed their statements in court. While they initially testified about an altercation between the survivor and Dileep during an AMMA-organised stage show rehearsal, they refused to confirm this in court. Consequently, the prosecution sought to declare them hostile witnesses. Babu also expressed that Dileep had been “expelled hastily” without “much thought on the subject. Eventually, Dileep resigned from AMMA, stating he would remain outside until his innocence was proven in court.
Most of those now accused of sexual misconduct were once pro-Dileep
Now, the same voices that once supported Dileep are facing the heat over serious harassment allegations. While Siddique has been booked for rape, Edavela Babu faces accusations of sexual misconduct. Mukesh, who vocally supported Dileep in a press conference before his arrest, has been booked for alleged sexual assault.
According to AMMA’s bylaws, one of its objectives is to “protect the rights of the members”. Other objectives include, “find out the issues concerning the artistes, analyse them and find out possible remedies,” “protect the members from unemployment” and “insist, maintain and develop self-discipline and professional and social ethics among members.” However, the organisation has often failed to uphold these principles, particularly by banning members, which goes against its mission to prevent unemployment.
AMMA’s welfare activities
Nonetheless, AMMA is involved in commendable welfare activities, such as the “Kaineettam” scheme, which provides Rs 5,000 monthly to the elderly and needy artistes, healthcare support including a Rs 5 lakh medical insurance plan, as well as an accident-death insurance policy. AMMA also supports the education of deceased members’ children by providing Rs 1 lakh in emergency financial aid and builds homes for impoverished families. However, amid all this, it seems to have neglected its primary duty of protecting its members’ rights, as revealed by the Hema Committee.
Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), recently told journalist Barkha Dutt on her YouTube channel Mojo Story, “Since AMMA has a massive membership, I think it (the downfall of the executive committee) will benefit them to have better leadership. And for that, I am with the AMMA members who deserve this for all the membership fees they paid.” Director Aashiq Abu echoed similar views, expressing that AMMA is a valuable organisation and describing the recent events as the beginning of positive changes. Abu also urged the association to reinstate members who were ousted, banned or resigned and advised AMMA to cease the practice of banning artists.
In their resignation statement, Mohanlal and other executive committee members indicated that a general body meeting would be held within two months to elect a new leadership. As Malayalam cinema witnesses a significant shift with the oppressed fighting back, it remains to be seen which side AMMA will ally with, despite its history offering some indication.
