'Patriarchy and lust for power weakened ideals': Revathi and Padmapriya resign from AMMA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prominent actors Revathi and Padmapriya have announced their resignation from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), levelling serious allegations of patriarchy and power politics against the film body. In a joint statement shared on social media, the actors stated that their decision was neither a hasty move nor a reaction to a single isolated incident, but a step taken to protect their self-respect.

The actors revealed that for nearly a decade, their demands within the organisation had been fundamental rights, including safer workplaces, dignity, accountability, and equal treatment. However, they expressed that the price for raising these concerns was institutional isolation, which distanced them from colleagues, friends, and professional spaces that once felt like home.

Critiquing the developments that followed the release of the landmark Justice Hema Committee report, Revathi and Padmapriya alleged that the subsequent leadership resignations within AMMA were not driven by principle, but were instead an escape from accountability. They noted that once public scrutiny diminished, the old order returned, with power finding new methods and faces to protect itself while leaving the underlying structures of inequality completely untouched.

The statement further emphasised that while AMMA was originally envisioned as a collective voice for all actors, it has increasingly become shaped by male dominance and internal power dynamics, thereby weakening its founding ideals.

Despite walking away from the organisation, both actors expressed unwavering faith in the future of the Malayalam film industry, envisioning an environment where future generations of women would not have to fight the same battles as their seniors. Affirming that their dedication to cinema, fellow colleagues, and an equitable industry does not depend on an organisational membership, they vowed to continue their professional journeys. They concluded their statement by expressing gratitude to the public and the media for their sustained support.