Thiruvananthapuram, July 29
With just two days left for withdrawal of nominations for the 17-member executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), there is a strong possibility that popular actress Shwetha Menon could become the first woman president in the male-dominated organisation's three-decade-old history.
The path appears to have been cleared after actor and comedian 70-year-old Jagadish expressed his desire to withdraw his nomination for the post of president.
A total of 74 nomination forms have been filed for various posts, and it will not be until Thursday -- the last date for withdrawal of nominations -- that it becomes clear whether Shwetha will create history, or if voting will be required for the top post and others.
AMMA office bearers include the president, two vice-presidents, the general secretary, the joint secretary, the treasurer, and 11 executive members.
There are around 500 AMMA members who are eligible to cast their votes.
Speaking to IANS, Jagadish said he had consulted veteran actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi before filing his nomination.
“In 2021, there was a general sentiment that two women should be made vice-presidents. When I heard that, I withdrew my nomination then. Now, there is talk about a woman leading our body. I felt I shouldn’t stand in the way,†said Jagadish.
“I discussed it again with the three senior actors, and they shared the same view. So I’ve decided to step back,†he told IANS.
However, he added that a few more things need to fall into place. “There are four other contenders for the post, including Shwetha. If the others don’t withdraw, then we will head into an election. Let’s wait and see if she is elected unopposed,†said Jagadish.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I support women's leadership, I wonder if this is just tokenism. Will she get real power or just be a figurehead? The big decisions are still taken by the superstars' lobby. Let's see actual policy changes before celebrating.
Shwetha chechi is perfect for this role! She's been in the industry for decades, knows the struggles of actors, and has always spoken up for fair wages and working conditions. This could be a game-changer for younger actresses too 💪
Jagadish's gesture is commendable. Shows maturity when senior artists step aside for change. But let's not make this about gender alone - the president must have the vision to handle AMMA's financial issues and OTT challenges.
As someone who's worked in Mollywood for 15 years, I can tell you this matters! Women face so many unspoken barriers - from pay disparity to fewer meaty roles. Having a woman at the top will at least give us a voice in the room where decisions happen.
Not sure why we're making this a big deal. AMMA needs strong leadership regardless of gender. The real test will be how she handles the powerful production houses and streaming platforms disrupting traditional cinema.
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