The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) recently elected Shwetha Menon as its first female president, a historic moment in the organization's 30-year history. However, this landmark achievement was quickly overshadowed by controversial remarks made by veteran actor Kollam Thulasi. Following the AMMA elections, Thulasi stated that men should always lead and women should be subordinate to them.
Thulasi's comments, made while speaking to the media, have ignited a firestorm of criticism and reignited the debate about sexism within the Malayalam film industry. When asked his opinion on women leading AMMA, Thulasi said, "Men should always lead. Women should always be beneath us". He further added, "They say women will rule, we say men will rule. We have to wait and see what happens. Men should rule, right? Women should always be beneath us. Isn't it? Go use that (for views). Men should always be above women. Isn't it?".
These remarks, widely condemned as misogynistic, have drawn significant backlash for undermining the milestone of electing the first female president of AMMA. Social media has been flooded with criticism, with many users calling Thulasi a "perpetual offender".
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Thulasi later dismissed his statement as a "joke," saying, "Now they will become my enemies. I was just joking". He also said, "I said this in a fun way, okay?". However, this attempt at clarification has done little to quell the outrage, and many view his words as a reflection of deep-seated sexism within the industry.
Kollam Thulasi is no stranger to controversy. In 2018, he made appalling comments about women entering the Sabarimala temple, saying that they should be "ripped into two". These remarks led to legal action against him.
Thulasi's recent comments come at a particularly sensitive time for AMMA. The organization is already facing scrutiny following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic exploitation and discrimination against women in the Malayalam film industry. The report highlighted the prevalence of gender inequality and the challenges faced by women in the industry, making Thulasi's remarks all the more jarring.
Despite the controversy, Shwetha Menon's election as AMMA president marks a significant step forward for women in Malayalam cinema. Menon secured her victory by a margin of 20 votes. Kukku Parameswaran was elected as General Secretary. Additionally, Jayan Cherthala and Lakshmi Priya were elected as vice-presidents, Ansiba Hasan as joint secretary, and Unni Sivapal as treasurer. The executive committee includes actors Sarayu, Vinu Mohan, Tiny Tom, Neena Kurup, Santhosh Keezhattoor, Dr Rony David Raj, Sijoy Varghese, Joy Mathew, Anjaly Nair, and Asha Aravind. This new leadership team has been entrusted with the task of restoring AMMA's credibility and fostering a more inclusive environment within the industry.
Menon has emphasized the need for unity within AMMA and has expressed her willingness to welcome members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an organization formed to address gender inequality in the industry. Her victory signifies a potential shift in AMMA's leadership, with an emphasis on inclusivity and diverse voices.
