Actors Revathi and Padmapriya Resign from AMMA, Cite Differences Over Organisation's Functioning

Kochi: Prominent actors Revathi and Padmapriya have resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), citing their disagreement with the organisation's positions and functioning. The two announced their decision through a joint statement shared on Instagram.

In their statement, the actors said their resignation should not be viewed as merely another chapter in the controversies surrounding AMMA. They clarified that the decision was neither made in haste nor was it a reaction to any single incident.

Revathi and Padmapriya criticised the organisation for its unwillingness to reform its existing practices despite changing times. Both have been among the prominent voices advocating for institutional reforms within AMMA since the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC).

The actors said the proposals and recommendations they had put forward over the years were consistently ignored by the organisation. They argued that AMMA has a responsibility to ensure a safe and a working environment with gender equality in the film industry. However, they alleged that the organisation's leadership has failed to stand with or listen to survivors of workplace harassment.

"For nearly a decade, our demands have been simple—a safe workplace, dignified treatment, accountability, and equal consideration. We sincerely believed that these minimum values, which everyone deserves, could unite us all," the joint statement said.

The rift within AMMA deepened following the high-profile case involving the abduction and sexual assault of a leading Malayalam actress, an incident that significantly reshaped discussions on workplace safety in the film industry. In the aftermath, members of the Women in Cinema Collective had urged the organisation to implement reforms, including establishing an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms. The resignations of Revathi and Padmapriya indicate their view that the organisation's leadership did not respond positively to these demands.