AMMA Election 2025: Shwetha Menon emerges front-runner for President’s post

Actor Shwetha Menon is emerging as the front-runner for the President’s post in the upcoming AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) elections, with the final list of candidates set to be announced on July 31. The deadline to withdraw nominations ends at 3 PM, and the confirmed list is expected to be published by 4 PM.

This year’s election, scheduled for August 15, is being seen as a potentially transformative moment for the Malayalam film industry. A record number of women have stepped forward to contest for top positions in AMMA, signalling a wider shift following years of criticism over the association’s handling of internal issues, especially those related to gender justice.

Shwetha faces competition from Devan and Anoop Chandran. Actor Jagadish, who had initially filed his nomination, is said to have withdrawn, along with Jayan Cherthala and Raveendran. Shwetha’s prospects are seen to have improved significantly with Jagadish’s reported exit. If elected, Shwetha Menon would make history as the first woman to lead AMMA since its inception in 1994.

These developments come amid ongoing scrutiny of the organisation following the 2017 actor assault case and the findings of the Hema Committee report, which highlighted systemic gender discrimination and the absence of effective grievance redressal within the Malayalam film industry. Its publication added fresh urgency to long-standing demands for reform across major industry bodies. In the wake of the report and growing criticism, the Mohanlal-led AMMA executive committee stepped down in 2024. The move followed sexual harassment allegations against key members of the leadership, including Siddique and Baburaj.

The Kerala Film Producers’ Association, which represents film producers in the Malayalam industry, will hold its election on August 14. Sandra Thomas, who is contesting for the President’s post in the association, has firmly stated that she will not withdraw her nomination. She also alleged attempts to disqualify her but declared her resolve to stand firm. “Why should it be a problem if a woman leads an association? The belief that only a man is capable and that a woman is not has been entrenched for too long,” she said.

In AMMA, actor Baburaj continues to campaign for the General Secretary’s post despite opposition from several members due to ongoing allegations. Five women are contesting for AMMA’s Vice President and Joint Secretary posts, including Navya Nair, Ansiba Hassan, and Kuku Parameswaran.