Change in the air

Women in film actors' organisation AMMA are set to assume top leadership roles, coincidentally at the time when Malayalam cinema is preparing to celebrate its centenary. The fact that the three main leadership posts have gone to women is a historic feat, nevertheless. The organisation boasts of having more than 500 film stars as its members.

Malayalam cinema, born due to the zealous spirit of legendary J C Daniels’s ‘Vikadakumaran’ in 1928, will complete 100 glorious years in just three years. In the last 100 years, Malayalam cinema was able to prove its might by competing with the finest movies around the world on the greatest of stages. If it was Bengal cinema before, Indian cinema is now recognised by the virtues and contributions of the Malayalam industry.

Amidst this centenary event comes an overhaul in AMMA and the Malayalam cinema industry. Apart from the creative laurels, the industry faced vilification since 2017 over the actress attack incident. Then came a series of major revolutionary beginnings, including the formation of the Women's Collective in Cinema, the Hema Committee investigation and then the controversy surrounding the report itself. The industry has not yet cleansed itself from the stain of these allegations, and thus, it is an ideal time for the women artists in the industry to ascend to the highest throne within the organisation.

With Shweta Menon as president and Kukku Parameswaran as general secretary, AMMA office bearers will start their work, shouldering many expectations. It is pertinent for the new office bearers to work in harmony with everyone. WCC activists and a few filmmakers, who were at odds with the formal leadership, should no longer keep the animosity active.

It is crazy to expect all differences within the organisation to be solved overnight with the new women's leadership on board. However, there is room for hope. The new leadership of AMMA can help the industry change course from its past. Let's hope that good times prevail within the industry.