The allegation by actor Shwetha Menon that the ‘power group’ named in the Hema Committee report is working against her has triggered a fresh bout of infighting within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

Her rival camp has asked her to divulge the names of those named in the Hema Committee report. They have accused her of using it as a ploy to tide over the failure of the executive panel of the association led by her in managing the affairs of the actors’ body.

Ms. Menon, who had retracted her decision to step down from the post of president of the association, had alleged that her “fight” was against those named in the Hema Committee report, which had probed the problems faced by women in Malayalam cinema. She had earlier publicly announced her decision to step down after a section of the members moved a no-confidence motion against her panel at the annual general body meeting of the association held in Kochi on June 21, 2026.

However, she reversed her decision later and said the executive committee led by her would continue. She had stated that she would ensure that those named in the Hema Committee report would not assume leadership roles in the association.

Actor Maala Paravathi, who was among those who had sought the resignation of the panel for its alleged failure to run the association properly, has asked Ms. Menon to disclose the names of those named in the report who are trying to take up leadership roles in the association. She said the common names figuring in such discussions, including actors Siddique, Baburaj and Edavela Babu, were not mentioned in the Hema Committee report. Moreover, they have already clarified that they do not intend to assume key roles in the association. They were also not nominated to the ad-hoc committee formed at the general body meeting after Ms. Menon had announced her resignation, she said.

Ms. Parvathi said Ms. Menon has the “obligation” to disclose the names before the public and the members of the association. Otherwise, such statements will only help in creating unnecessary doubts and misunderstanding, she said.

Actor Usha Haseena blamed Ms. Menon of trying to cover up her failure to present the financial statement of the association by raising such baseless allegations. She said “nobody has asked” that those facing allegations should take up key roles in the actors’ body. “We have only asked you to step down from your post. It is a truth that you were forced to resign after the members rejected the report and false accounts at the general body meeting, she said.

Ms. Haseena alleged that Ms. Menon has no qualification to remain in the president’s post after facing serious allegations of financial irregularities.

The Hema Committee report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was published on August 19, 2024, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government. It had revealed horrid tales of sexual exploitation, illegal bans, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wage disparity and in some cases, inhuman working conditions.

The report had multiple references to a ‘power group’. It has come out in evidence that around 10 to 15 individuals in cinema, who are at the forefront of the Malayalam film industry, constitute a power group and that they are controlling the industry, it said. The report mentioned that the power group had banned people from working in the industry “once they turn against someone.”

Actor Shwetha Menon, who retracted her earlier decision to step down as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), has said she will “go to any extent” to make sure that those named in the Hema Committee report will not lead the actors’ body.

In a social media post on Tuesday, she stated that her fight is against the ‘power group’ named in the Hema Committee report [on the problems faced by women in Malayalam cinema]. She alleged that the group “humiliated” her and tried to expel her from the annual general body meeting of the association held in Kochi on June 21.

She alleged that some in the power group had raised personal allegations against her after she had questioned them about their financial wrongdoings linked to the association.

On the allegation that she had received commission to provide candidates for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, Ms. Menon said she has “not understood the logic” behind the allegation that a national party that has been in power for the last 12 years will require her support to get candidates. She said she “has no reason” to hide her political affiliation, if any, as the association’s executive committee has members with political leanings across various parties, including the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and BJP.

She said the ‘corruption allegations’, which she claimed had been acknowledged by actor and MLA Ramesh Pisharody, have not received the attention it needed in view of the ongoing controversies.

The rival factions in the association are engaged in a legal battle after the Ernakulam Munsiff court issued a stay on the functioning of the ad-hoc committee formed at the general body meeting of the actors’ body on June 21 based on a petition filed by Ms. Menon. She had claimed that the ad-hoc committee was formed in violation of the laws of the association.

Mr. Pisharody, who was the convener of the ad-hoc committee, had stepped down following the court order. He had informed the court that Ms. Menon could not continue exercising her powers as she had publicly declared at the general body meeting that she and the entire executive committee stood resigned. The ad-hoc committee was formed with the concurrence of the general body, which is the apex policy-making body in the association, he said.

Actor Shwetha Menon, who reversed her earlier decision to step down as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), has sent a letter to its members stating that the executive committee led by her has initiated measures to correct its “lapses caused by lack of experience.”

She said the committee is “duty-bound” to move forward with more responsibility as the existing panel members will continue to carry out their responsibilities.

The actor had earlier vowed to continue in her post after publicly announcing her resignation at the stormy general body meeting of the association held in Kochi on June 21. The crisis emerged after a section of the members moved a no-confidence motion against the committee, alleging administrative and accounting lapses.

The letter said the daily affairs of the association, including disbursal of benefits to its employees, have not been affected since the general body meeting on June 21. “We have realised that several members have been pained by the discussions and differences of opinion aired at the meeting. Our priority is to ensure the welfare and security of all the members. We expect that you would continue to support us”, it said.

The letter to the members has come at a time when the Ernakulam Munsiff Court, which had stayed the formation of an ad-hoc committee at the general body meeting, is slated to hear the arguments by Ramesh Pisharody, actor and MLA, against the legal validity of the panel led by Ms. Menon.

He had announced his resignation from the post of convener of the ad-hoc committee following the court order on July 3. The rival faction has questioned the propriety of sending a letter by the panel led by Ms. Menon as they pointed out that the court is yet to consider the arguments against its legal standing.

Actors Mallika Sukumaran and Lakshmipriya have resigned from the primary membership of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

In a Facebook post on Monday (June 22, 2026), Ms. Sukumaran said that she is stepping down from the association, expressing solidarity with Shwetha Menon, the first woman president of the actors’ body, who resigned on Sunday (June 21, 2026).

The 17-member executive committee decided to step down after a section of the association moved a no-confidence motion against the leadership at a general body meeting held in Kochi. The leadership was accused of failing to run the day-to-day affairs of the organisation and resolve the disputes within the outfit. Ms. Sukumaran said that she is standing with “truth and justice”.

Actor Lakshmipriya, who was vice-president in the executive committee, told media persons that she has resigned from the primary membership of the association. She said that some of the members came with an agenda to 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. “We could not present a full report in view of the failure of the previous committee to finalise the accounts,” she alleged.