Mohanlal resigns as AMMA chairman after Hema Committee Report; executive committee is dissolved as well

The Justice Hema Committee report has shaken up things in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Top Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has resigned from the body as its chairman. The report has revealed that sexual harassment is quite common in the Malayalam Film Industry. Given some of the damning information in the report, all members of the executive committee submitted their joint resignation. It will take two months to form a new committee on the same. The Justice K Hema Committee’s report highlighted that abuse of women professionals happened pretty often, and matters were swept under the carpet as men were in positions of power. 

Filmmakers Ranjith and Siddique have quit the AMMA. Quite a few people have demanded that those responsible for such crimes should be punished. The CM of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting with top cops to form a team that would investigate such cases of misconduct with female professionals in the industry. Actor Shammy Thilakan has called out Mohanlal for being silent on the whole matter. He said it looks like he has lost his ability to respond. It seems the Hema Committee has a term “Power Group”. Thilakan said many people live in fear and hesitate to call out those responsible for abuse fearing professional consequences. 

Award winning filmmaker Ranjith has been accused by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra of sexual misconduct. It seems she met him for discussions on his movie, Palerimanikkam, and he tried to touch her body with bad intentions. She said she has sent a complaint on email to Kochi Police and would like them to treat it like a formal complaint. Even director Siddique has resigned as a young artiste has complained against him. 

Prithviraj Sukumaran said that the report needs to be given careful consideration. He said people who are in position of power and sexually abuse others deserve punishment. He said those accused should step aside when being investigated. Sukumaran said it is the morally right thing to do. At a press conference he said, “My responsibility does not end with just ensuring that my movie location is safe, it is important that the entire industry is safe for people.”