AMMA Row: Why Revathi, Padmapriya Quit Actors' Body

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ongoing issues within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has taken another turn, with actors Revathy and Padmapriya resigning from the organisation's primary membership. In a joint statement, the two actors said AMMA had share the reason behind this move. Their resignation comes amid a the leadership crisis within the association, following the fallout over the organisation's administration which includes Ansiba Hassan-Tini Tom communal remarks row, and AMMA President's Swetha Menon's role in the film body. Industry superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal have largely remained silent, and not issued any public statement on this.

Revathy and Padmapriya Announce Resignation from AMMA - Here's Why

Revathy and Padmapriya on Monday announced their resignation from the primary membership of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), saying the organisation had drifted away from its founding ideals. In a joint statement shared on social media, the actors mentioned on their nearly decade-long demand for safer workplaces, accountability, dignity and equal treatment within the industry."Our resignation is not in haste and not about a single incident. For nearly a decade, the ask was simple: safer workplaces, dignity, accountability, equal treatment the minimum every member deserves, and values we genuinely believed all of us could unite around."

They further mentioned that the resignations following the Hema Committee report were "not an act of principle" but "an escape from accountability."Revathy and Padmapriya are also members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), formed in 2017 to advocate for reforms in the Malayalam film industry following the actress assault case.

AMMA Faces Growing Internal Crisis

In their statement, the actors said, "AMMA was meant to stand as a collective voice for all actors. But it has become increasingly shaped by patriarchy and power politics, weakening its founding ideals. Walking away for us now is not defeat. It is self-respect."

Their exit comes at a time when AMMA is grappling with a major leadership crisis. The executive committee headed by president Shwetha Menon resigned after the association's annual general body meeting on June 21, where members voted to remove the committee over alleged irregularities. An ad hoc panel led by actor and MLA Ramesh Pisharody was appointed to oversee the organisation until fresh elections.However, Swetha Menon later maintained that she remained AMMA president and termed the ad hoc committee 'illegitimate'. The situation further grew bigger after Pisharody resigned from the interim panel. This came after Ansiba Hassan resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), alleging harassment and communal discrimination. She also filed a police complaint against executive committee member Tini Tom, accusing him of making remarks.