Kochi: The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), long held together by the commanding presence of industry icons Mammootty and Mohanlal, now faces an uncertain future as it prepares to elect a new leadership team — a task that insiders say will be anything but easy.

For over three decades, the Malayalam film industry's top stars have played a stabilising role within AMMA, with their decisions rarely contested. However, the association has been in a state of limbo ever since the Hema Committee report was made public, which, according to the report, exposed “the appalling conditions faced by women in the industry”.

The fallout from the report intensified as several women — mostly actors in supporting roles — stepped forward with allegations of sexual exploitation involving well-known names in the industry.

The controversy escalated further last year when Siddique, who had recently taken over as general secretary, was forced to resign following allegations against him. Though the Mohanlal-led executive committee was elected for a three-year term, the leadership team chose to step down in light of the complaints and police involvement. Still, they were requested to continue as an ad-hoc committee until the next annual general body meeting.

Sunday’s much-anticipated general body meeting, however, ended with little progress. Deep divisions emerged on how to move forward, and the meeting failed to produce any decisive outcomes.

In the end, members agreed not to simply appoint replacements for the vacant posts of secretary and treasurer, but to instead conduct fresh elections for a new leadership.

It is learned that the elections are expected to take place within the next three months, likely in September.

In a development that has further complicated matters, Mohanlal has reportedly informed close confidants that he will no longer hold any official position, expressing that “in the best interest” of the organisation, it’s time for a new generation of actors to lead.

But the transition may not be smooth. Many among the younger actors have shown reluctance to take over the reins of AMMA, leading to confusion and indecision within the association.

What has arguably left AMMA most rudderless is the absence of Mammootty, who, due to health concerns, has distanced himself from all industry-related affairs in recent months. Known for his authority and influence, Mammootty's opinions traditionally held weight and were rarely contested.

Now, with both stalwarts stepping away, the spotlight is on who will emerge as a consensus figure capable of uniting the fractured group. Conversations have already begun about assembling a new leadership through a democratic process, but finding individuals with both credibility and broad support may prove challenging.