WCC takes on AMMA; will unmask 'happy family' image, say actresses

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The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) heavily criticised the leadership of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), at a press conference in Kochi on Saturday. Revathy, Parvathy Thiruvoth, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Beena Paul and Anjali Menon spoke on behalf of the WCC.

Opening the press meet, director Anjali Menon said that despite it being a time when the entire nation is taking the voice of women seriously, it is not happening in Kerala. “We need support not just in words, but also in action,” she said. The WCC condemned AMMA's move to retain the membership of Dileep, accused in the actress abduction and assault case.

“The entire nation, across trade bodies and industries, is taking action and expelling the accused members in the MeToo storm. On the other hand, AMMA is supporting the accused and interfering in the case. In the meeting with AMMA, all their discussions were against the survivor. We are hurt, disrespected and very angry,” said Parvathy.

On October 7, the AMMA executive committee decided no action will be taken against Dileep. The decision came after actresses Parvathy, Revathy and Padmapriya, who are members of the Women in Cinema Collective, sent three letters urging AMMA to take a final decision on Dileep's membership.

Earlier in the day, writer N.S. Madhavan had tweeted about WCC's press conference, hinting that the MeToo campaign that had shook Bollywood and Tollywood was about to hit the Malayalam film industry. "A little bird says this could be big," he tweeted. Bina Paul, however, cleared the air and said they were not here to shame the industry or do a MeToo. “We want to unmask the happy family image of AMMA,” the actresses said. “We will keep cleansing. This is just the beginning,” warned the WCC.

The decision to expel Dileep was taken at an emergency meeting of AMMA at actor Mammootty's residence in Kochi on July 11, 2017, a day after Dileep's arrest in the actress assault case. Dileep was reinstated into the film body at the general body meeting of the association after veteran actor Mohanlal took charge as the president, succeeding Innocent. The officebearers decided to take back Dileep, citing reasons that the decision to expel him would not stand valid on certain technical grounds, and that bye-laws will have to be changed.

The WCC has been protesting against the actor's reinstatement with four members of WCC—the sexual assault survivor, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan and Geethu Mohandas—quitting AMMA in June.

“In a recent letter, we were told if the survivor and three other women actors want to rejoin the AMMA, they should send in an application and the executive committee will send it to the general body for consideration,” said Revathy. AMMA is hiding behind bye-laws, the actresses said.

After widespread criticism against AMMA and Mohanlal, the film body had asked for some more time to decide on Dileep in a meeting held on August 7 between the executive committee and the three actresses. However, the devastating floods that hit the state, delayed matters further. The third letter, written by the WCC members, had stated AMMA must take a decision on their stand on Dileep by October 9.



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