AMMA defends female artistes after they demand action, male superstars remain silent

Actress Urvashi, Shweta Menon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A day after the leadership of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) gave a cautious response to the Hema committee report on issues within the industry, the organisation found itself under fire as its own women members demanded more serious action. Questions were also raised in the public sphere on the continued silence of veteran male superstars as well as the younger generation on the report that documented issues including sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

Speaking to the press on Saturday, actress Urvashi said that AMMA should take decisive action on the findings of the report.

Urvashi says, “The situation requires a strong response from AMMA. I heard vague answers in the press conference yesterday. Siddiqui may not be able to say much more since this is the first response, but nothing more will happen than this. We should give great importance to the statements of these women before the committee. If their intention was to offend anyone, they could have called a press conference and made these claims. This statement before the committee should be taken with all seriousness. The government will have to bring a mechanism to stop this, but the first step should come from AMMA.”

He said that strict action was required to safeguard the credibility of the Malayalam industry as people from other industries were also discussing and enquiring about the report’s findings.

Actress Shwetha Menon, former AMMA vice-president, refuted the AMMA leadership’s claim that there were no powerful groups or illegal restrictions in the industry.

“I have also experienced illegal restrictions. At one point, I had signed nine films. But, one morning, all these offers disappeared. I have always fought for myself and taken a strong stand. Many people have faced difficulties, but they did not speak openly about it. If more women support them, they will have the courage to come out. It is an encouraging sign that more women are speaking out now,” she said.

AMMA executive member and actress Ansiba Hassan demanded that if there is evidence of the acts of the culprits mentioned in the report, their names should be made public.

He said, “These cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents. If so many women have come forward and said that being banned from films is a reality, why should anyone deny it? Only those who have experienced such things can understand the pain. All these women have spoken openly about their bad experiences, with the hope that no one has to go through this again. It is a huge mistake that the publication of the report was delayed by five years, because justice delayed is justice denied.”