'Mohanlal should lead...' Beena Antony says groupism, inexperience hurt AMMA

Kochi, Kerala: Malayalam actress Beena Antony said the failures within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) were due to inexperience in the governing committee. She also said divisions and groupism had formed within the current leadership.

She said some members wanted the present administration to end, adding that this became clear during the recent general body meeting. Beena also said women were not given a chance to speak during the process.

Beena Antony said senior members of AMMA who receive a token amount are not allowed to sit on the committee or contest elections. She said this situation should change.

Internal divisions and confusion, says Beena Antony

“We are people who stand outside the administration. We do not know exactly what happened there. It was only when we attended the general body meeting that we realised how serious the situation was,” she said.

She said it had been difficult for members to speak publicly about issues in the organisation.

“There was a no-confidence motion. Since we were outsiders, it created confusion about whom we should support,” she said.

She said two or three groups had formed within AMMA. She added that disagreements grew within the organisation, with members working against each other.

“As a result, what one person said was not liked by another. There were problems where one person tried to bring down another,” she said.

Call for another chance for the outgoing committee

Beena Antony said AMMA president Swetha Menon addressed the meeting, and she felt the committee should be given another chance.

“When Swetha came and spoke, I felt they should be given one more chance to rectify their mistakes. They only asked for 45 days. They have not committed any irregularities in the accounts. The amount that existed when this administration took charge remains the same even now,” she said.

She also said women were not able to raise their voices.

“It is saddening to know that women did not get a chance to raise their voices. Some people wanted this administration not to continue,” she said.

Financial assistance members and voting rights issue

Beena Antony said it was wrong to prevent members who receive tokens (payments) from contesting elections.

“It is sad to say that those who receive a token cannot contest. They do not have voting rights. They do not even have positions in the ad hoc committee. They are called honorary members,” she said.

She said members wanted actor Mohanlal to lead the organisation again.

“We want Lalettan himself to be at the helm. His words are our greatest happiness,” she said.

Entire AMMA executive committee resigns

The entire governing committee of AMMA resigned on Sunday after criticism of the leadership. The decision came after the annual general body meeting in Kochi.

The resignation followed discussions on the annual report. Members did not accept the report or the accounts and pointed out errors in both.

During the meeting, President Swetha Menon announced her resignation. However, other members persuaded her to withdraw it. Soon after, the entire governing committee announced its collective resignation.

Leadership crisis and new ad hoc committee

The executive committee had 17 members. Internal allegations and counter-allegations within the leadership led to the mass resignation. The organisation has not faced a crisis of this scale before.

After the resignations, an ad hoc committee was formed under actor Ramesh Pisharody.

The committee, with actor and MLA Ramesh Pisharody as convener, aims to hold elections within four months.

Other members include K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Suresh Krishna, Sadiq, Dr Ronnie, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Asha Aravind, Devi Chandana and Krishnaprabha.