Mohanlal, Mammootty maintain silence as rift widens inside Malayalam Actors' body

KOCHI: Malayalam actors Mohanlal and Mammootty have found themselves at the center of the ongoing turmoil within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), with various members dragging their names into the dispute or stepping up to defend them. Meanwhile, both superstars have maintained a steadfast silence despite their names being repeatedly brought up in connection with the controversy.

The latest friction was triggered by statements made by AMMA President Shwetha Menon, who claimed that both Mohanlal and Mammootty had extended their support to her. Shwetha further asserted that Mohanlal had resigned from his position as the president of AMMA because he felt there was no reason for him to bear the brunt of the bad reputation caused by the scams and irregularities committed by certain accused individuals within the organisation.

However, these claims quickly drew sharp reactions from other prominent members of the film fraternity. Actor Ansiba Hassan countered Shwetha’s statements, arguing that Shwetha should not be speaking on behalf of Mohanlal and Mammootty. Ansiba stated that both actors are fully capable of expressing their own views and should speak for themselves rather than having others articulate opinions on their behalf.

Sharing a similar sentiment, dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi criticised the ex AMMA president's remarks. Bhagyalakshmi alleged that Shwetha was only claiming to have the backing of the two superstars because she was confident that neither Mohanlal nor Mammootty would publicly step forward to clarify or speak out on the matter.

Amid the internal strife within the artists' association, a political angle has also emerged regarding the organisation's composition. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesperson K.V.S. Haridas stated that AMMA must also belong to those affiliated with the BJP. In a Facebook post, Haridas pointed out that there are BJP members within the association, citing actor-politician Suresh Gopi and director Major Ravi as prominent examples. He further warned that if anyone attempts to insult or target members based on their connection to the BJP, many disclosures will have to be made in response.