AMMA crisis: Executive panel review widens internal rift

Actors Asha Aravind and Sijoy Varghese were recently elected vice-chairmen of the | Photo credit: The Hindu

Rival factions in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) seem to be in no mood to let up as the rift in the actors’ body has widened following the executive committee’s recent decision to fill the vacant posts of vice-presidents, treasurers and joint secretary.

Actors Asha Aravind and Sijoy Varghese were elected as vice-chairmen by the committee in a reshuffle held last week after the cast was plunged into organizational turmoil following the AGM held here on June 21, 2026. Actors Neena Kurup and Sarayu Mohan were elected as treasurer and joint secretary.

The 17-member panel, led by its first wife president Shweta Menon, announced her resignation at the general meeting after a section of the association filed a no-confidence motion against the management, accusing them of failing to submit audited financial accounts of the organization and resolve disputes within the organization. It later took back its decision and the panel continued to hold its positions after the Ernakulam Munsiff Court stayed the decision taken in the general meeting to constitute an ad hoc panel.

Actress Ansiba Hassan, who resigned in February 2026 after accusing actress Tini Tom and some of the members of her murder and alleged joint remarks directed against her, questioned the legality of the new appointments, saying such decisions were made by a panel that announced its decision to resign at a general body meeting. “Their decision was also approved by the general body, which is the highest decision-making body in the association,” she said.

She said that the proceedings of the senate even after the announcement of his resignation will be reported to the registrar of cooperatives.

Along with actors Maala Parvathi, Usha Haseena and Ponnamma Babu, she submitted a letter to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies seeking the seizure of the books and financial documents which are still in the possession of the panel led by Shweta Menon.

They urged the authorities to “exercise the powers conferred by Section 19 of the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955 and such other enabling provisions of the Act as may be applicable, to protect the interests of the association and its members”.

In accordance with the bylaws: panel

However, the current panel clarified that the appointments to the vacancies in the executive committee were made in accordance with the bylaws of the association. Appointments to key executive positions were made as part of a process initiated to ensure smooth operations.

“We have received a summons to appear for a hearing on October 14, 2026 in connection with a complaint pending with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies,” the panel members said.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 12:58 IST