Actress Shwetha Menon has been elected as the organisation’s first-ever woman president in a historic milestone for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).The victory, sealed on Thursday, saw Shwetha secure 159 votes — 20 more than her opponent Devan, who received 132. Standing before members and the media after the announcement, Shwetha said with a smile, “You all said AMMA should be a woman, and today that moment has come — AMMA is now a woman.”The election saw an impressive turnout, with 298 members casting their votes. “Namaskaram. First of all, I thank all our family members who are here today… I am speaking this gratitude from the language of my heart,” she said, adding that holding two general body meetings in a year had been a costly yet unifying effort.
‘I will personally invite them back’
Shwetha made it clear that her vision as president would be one of inclusion and healing. Referring to members who had resigned or left due to disagreements, she said, “Those who resigned from AMMA will return. Those who left in disagreement should come back — if necessary, I will personally invite them.” She also reached out to members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), stating they were “all part of the AMMA family” and expressing readiness to meet them personally.
Her remarks reflected an emphasis on collaboration: “We should first hold an executive meeting and make some decisions. Step by step, we must do everything together.”
A team effort: New faces in key positions
The election also brought in new leadership across key posts. Kuku Parameswaran was elected General Secretary with 172 votes, defeating Ravindran’s 115. For the vice-president position, Lakshmipriya won with 139 votes, while Nasser Latheef trailed at 96.As she took on her new role, Shwetha reflected on the essence of the profession: “I believe there is no gender divide in cinema — only characters exist. The life of a film artist lies between an action and a cut.”With her win, AMMA’s leadership enters a new chapter.
