Shweta Menon Alleges ‘Power Group’ in Malayalam Cinema, Flags Financial Irregularities in AMMA

Kochi: Malayalam actress and AMMA president Shwetha Menon has launched a fresh attack on what she called a "power group" within the film actors' body, alleging that certain accused persons had misappropriated funds meant for the welfare of AMMA's members.

In a Facebook post, Shwetha acknowledged that many AMMA members are actors who have fallen out of active work in the industry, a fact she said has often been mocked on social media. She said this was, in fact, true — pointing out that a significant number of artistes in the organisation live without a steady income, and that AMMA was founded precisely to support such members with medical assistance, daily sustenance and dignity, without them having to seek help from others.

She said senior actors such as Mohanlal and Mammootty, along with other "star value" artistes, lend their time and effort to AMMA's sponsored programmes specifically to raise funds for this welfare work, and that the organisation had never discriminated based on the religion or identity of those who came forward to help — be it individuals, temples, churches, mosques, or business houses such as the Ambani or Adani groups.

However, she alleged that she had uncovered past financial irregularities involving funds that were meant to be earmarked for members' treatment, medicines and welfare activities, committed by certain individuals. She said the trouble began only after she started questioning these dealings, claiming she had even faced an attempt to physically confront her during an AMMA General Body meeting. It was in that context, she said, that she had considered stepping down from AMMA.

Shwetha Menon said an ordinary woman could never single-handedly take on the "power group" in the Malayalam film industry, adding that the scale of attacks she has faced since she first contested for the AMMA presidency illustrates this. She referenced Mohanlal's own resignation from the AMMA presidency in the past, suggesting that even he did not wish to be associated with the alleged financial misconduct of the others.

She maintained that her fight was never about any position or for personal gain, but against those within AMMA who carried out financial irregularities. She accused her detractors of trying to silence her through rumours and defamation, but said she would not retreat from the fight regardless of the lies spread about her, since it concerned the rights of AMMA and its ordinary members.

Shwetha Menon added that even if she were to eventually lose this battle, she would not be disheartened, asserting that the "power group" had already been exposed before AMMA's members through the process — something she described as her biggest victory.