Kochi: Marking his first appearance at the gathering in 13 years, veteran actor Jagathy Sreekumar made an emotional return to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) general body meeting on Sunday.

Arriving in a wheelchair alongside his son, Jagathy was warmly welcomed at the Gokulam Convention Centre in Kaloor, where AMMA's 31st general body meeting was underway. Though his voice remained silent, Jagathy’s smile and gentle nods conveyed his joy as fellow actors greeted him with affection.

One of the most poignant moments of the day came when superstar Mohanlal embraced his dear friend. As Mohanlal held his hand, Jagathy's smile grew wider, his eyes reflecting a quiet happiness as he listened intently to the warm words shared between them.

Malayalam stars gather, Mammootty absent

Almost every major figure in Malayalam cinema was present at the meeting, adding to its relevance. However, the noticeable absence of Mammootty, another stalwart of the industry, left a void.
 

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The meeting was especially important this year, as AMMA, which has been functioning under an ad-hoc committee for the past year, is in the process of selecting a new executive team. Though an election was initially on the cards, sources suggest that voting may be avoided.

 

Actor Baburaj, who currently serves as joint secretary, is expected to take over as general secretary. The general body is also set to confirm the resignations of previous office-bearers Siddique and Unni Mukundan (general secretary and treasurer respectively) and elect their replacements.

These changes come nearly a year after the previous committee, elected through a formal vote, stepped down en masse in August 2023. The resignations followed a wave of controversies, including revelations tied to the Hema Committee report. In the wake of growing criticism, Mohanlal and other members dissolved the governing council, leading to the formation of the current ad-hoc panel.