Kochi: A group of actresses in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on Saturday levelled a series of allegations against the organisation's president, Shwetha Menon, accusing her of attempting to communally target actress Ansiba Hassan, suppressing dissent within the association and heading a committee they claimed collapsed amid allegations of financial irregularities.

The allegations were made at a joint press conference in Kochi by actresses Usha Haseena, Ansiba Hassan, Mala Parvathy and Maya Viswanath. The four also responded to allegations made in a recently surfaced phone conversation between Shwetha Menon and actor Ramesh Pisharody.

Questions raised over reported donation proposal

During the press conference, Mala Parvathy played a video clip from an interview in which BJP leader Padmaja Menon said AMMA was expected to receive a ₹15-crore donation from the Adani Group.

Mala Parvathy questioned the need for such financial assistance, saying the association did not require a ₹15-crore contribution from a multinational company.

She also questioned Padmaja Menon's role in the matter, pointing out that, to her knowledge, the BJP leader was not an AMMA member.

"A political leader is saying that ₹15 crore will be brought in based on Shwetha's credibility. As far as we know, she is not an AMMA member. Our stand is that we do not need ₹15 crore from a multinational company," Mala Parvathy said.

Mala Parvathy alleges communal targeting of Ansiba Hassan

Mala Parvathy alleged that Shwetha Menon had attempted to portray Ansiba Hassan as a communal figure and a "jihadi".

She said she had no objection to Shwetha Menon's political affiliation but would oppose any attempt to bring political agendas into the functioning of the organisation.

According to Mala Parvathy, Ansiba became a target after questioning certain actions within AMMA.

She alleged that efforts were made to portray Ansiba, "a person with a Muslim name", as a communalist. Mala Parvathy also claimed she had received calls from individuals alleging that Shwetha was promoting communalism because she had accepted money from a Hindu temple, which she described as an attempt to create divisions within the association.

She also questioned why she was not allowed to speak during the general body meeting.

According to her, Shwetha Menon prevented her from getting access to the microphone and told her she could instead speak to the media. She further alleged that the phone conversation involving Ramesh Pisharody had been released with a specific agenda and claimed another person had been present during the call.

'I was warned not to support Ansiba'

Mala Parvathy alleged that Shwetha Menon had privately told her Ansiba Hassan was trying to convert four people to another religion.

She said she objected to the claim and asked Shwetha not to make such allegations, leading to an argument.

According to Mala Parvathy, she later told Shwetha that she would speak publicly because the issue concerned society. She alleged that Shwetha responded by saying she would no longer have a place in the film industry and advised her not to involve herself in matters relating to Ansiba.

Mala Parvathy said she subsequently contacted a production controller after reflecting on the conversation.

Rejecting claims that she was part of any conspiracy, she said discussions had taken place because she believed AMMA should not be governed by people who, according to her, encouraged communal polarisation or division among artists.

Reference made to The Kerala Story and committee row

Mala Parvathy said she decided to oppose the developments because she believed a narrative similar to that portrayed in the film The Kerala Story was being created.

She also referred to an allegation made earlier by actor Baburaj that ₹2 crore had been received from a particular political party. According to her, the allegation was not initially taken seriously during the general body meeting.

She claimed members began to view the issue differently only after AMMA vice-president Lakshmipriya raised it the following day.

Mala Parvathy also said Ramesh Pisharody agreed to head the ad hoc committee only after repeated requests.

She added that if allegations suggested efforts had been made to prevent the communalisation of the Malayalam film industry by taking control of cinema organisations, she accepted responsibility for those actions. She maintained, however, that although she had spoken strongly, she had not used abusive language.

Ansiba defends ad hoc committee, questions Shwetha's criticism

Responding to Shwetha Menon's criticism of the ad hoc committee led by actor Mohanlal after the executive committee resigned, Ansiba Hassan defended the panel's continuation.

She said the committee was allowed to continue in an ad hoc capacity because it was not possible to convene a general body meeting immediately after the resignations.

According to Ansiba, the decision relating to the Sanjeevani project had already been taken before the executive committee stepped down, and the ad hoc committee merely implemented it.

"Is a good initiative being criticised?" she asked.

Ansiba also alleged that the committee headed by Shwetha Menon had fallen because of financial irregularities.

"How can the general body allow those facing allegations of financial irregularities to continue as an ad hoc committee?" she asked.

Conduct of general body meeting questioned

Usha Haseena also criticised the conduct of the AMMA general body meeting.

She alleged that the financial statements circulated among members differed from those that had mistakenly been sent to actor Baburaj.

She further claimed members were denied adequate opportunity to speak because only one microphone was available throughout the meeting and it remained with actor Anoop Chandran.

According to Usha Haseena, allegations were raised against Baburaj but he was not given an opportunity to respond.

She alleged that when Baburaj said he wished to leave the meeting, Shwetha Menon insisted that members should first listen to her as president. When Baburaj repeated that he intended to leave, Usha Haseena claimed Shwetha told him he was free to do so and that a vehicle was waiting outside.

She further alleged that only members supporting Shwetha Menon's position were allowed to speak during the meeting, while maintaining that those who raised objections had not used abusive language.