Claims, counterclaims and fresh allegations continue to deepen the crisis within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), with the public war of words among its members showing no signs of easing. A day after a group of actresses accused AMMA president Shwetha Menon of attempting to communally target actress Ansiba Hassan, suppress dissent within the association and heading a committee they alleged was tainted by financial irregularities, Shwetha responded with a fresh Facebook post.

In her latest Facebook post on Sunday, Shwetha claimed that even veteran actor Mohanlal had resigned as AMMA president because of a "power group" within the organisation. The post marks the latest twist in an increasingly bitter exchange of allegations and counter-allegations involving several members of the association.

The post also comes after Ansiba Hassan challenged Shwetha's earlier claim that Malayalam cinema's leading stars, Mammootty and Mohanlal, had advised her not to resign as AMMA president and had asked her to remain firm in her stand.

In her earlier Facebook post, Shwetha had also said that "a small group of 10–15 people cannot decide how AMMA should function" and that the organisation should be guided by the will of the majority of its members.

Ansiba, however, said she did not believe Shwetha's claim that Mammootty and Mohanlal had made such remarks. She said that if the two senior actors had indeed conveyed those views, they should clarify the matter publicly themselves.

Shwetha alleges financial irregularities within AMMA

In her latest post, Shwetha said social media users often mocked AMMA by claiming that many of its members were no longer active in the film industry and had no work.

She said that, while this was true for many members, it also underscored the purpose for which AMMA was established. According to her, the association exists to support artists without a regular income by helping them meet medical expenses, buy medicines and manage their daily needs without having to depend on others.

Shwetha said this was why actors such as Mohanlal, Mammootty and other stars with commercial value participated in AMMA's sponsored programmes, contributing their time and effort to raise funds for the association's welfare activities.

She added that AMMA had never distinguished between donors based on religion or identity, saying the organisation accepted support from anyone willing to contribute.

Shwetha then alleged that she had found financial irregularities involving funds reserved for members' welfare, including money meant for treatment, medicines and other assistance.

According to her, attempts to question those alleged irregularities led to efforts to humiliate her. She also claimed that there was an attempt to physically assault her during a general body meeting, prompting her to consider stepping down from the organisation.

'Why did Mohanlal resign?'

Shwetha said taking on what she described as a "power group" in the Malayalam film industry was impossible for an ordinary woman to do alone. She said the attacks she had faced since contesting the AMMA presidential election reflected that reality.

She then referred to Mohanlal's resignation as AMMA president, asking why he too had stepped down. Shwetha suggested that he may also have wished to avoid being blamed for the alleged financial irregularities and fraud committed by those she described as “accused individuals” within the association.

She maintained that her fight had never been about retaining a position or securing personal benefit, but about exposing alleged financial irregularities and taking on those she held responsible.

Shwetha further alleged that attempts were being made to silence her through false narratives and defamation. She said she would not back down, adding that her fight was to protect the rights of ordinary AMMA members.

She added that even if she ultimately lost the battle, she believed the alleged "power group" had now been exposed before the association's members, calling that her biggest victory.