Crisis in AMMA deepens as resignations continue

The crisis in Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has worsened after actors Mallika Sukumaran and Lakshmipriya resigned from its primary membership on Monday (June 22, 2026).

Ms. Sukumaran said in a social media post that she stood with Shweta Menon, the association’s first woman president, who resigned on Sunday after a stormy general body meeting held in Kochi. Actor Asha Aravind, a member of the previous committee who was included in the ad-hoc committee formed on Sunday, also expressed her desire to quit following criticism against including her in the new panel.

Ms. Sukumaran said that she is stepping down from the association expressing solidarity with Ms. Menon. The 17-member executive committee decided to step down after a section of the association moved a no-confidence motion against the leadership at the general body meeting. The leadership was accused of failing to run the day-to-day affairs of the organisation and resolve the disputes within the outfit.

Ms. Lakshmipriya, who was vice-president in the executive committee, alleged that some of the members came with an agenda at the general body meeting. She also rejected the allegations that the executive committee had to step down as they were not able to present a proper financial statement at the general body meeting.

Meanwhile, actor Ansiba Hassan has called for a new leadership for the association. “Let a new leadership led by actors like Kunchacko Boban, Prithviraj, Asif Ali, and Dhyan Sreenivasan lead the association,” she said while stating that the organisation needed a group of people, who could listen to the issues raised by its members with a sense of empathy.

“The new committee has to take the initiative to bring back actors, including the survivor [in the actor assault case], back to the association’s fold,” she said.

Ms. Hassan, who had resigned from the post of joint secretary in February 2026 after accusing actor Tini Tom and a section of the members of the forum of subjecting her to character assassination and making communal remarks targeting her, said that she has received justice as the general body meeting realised that the executive committee led by Ms. Menon was not fit to continue.