Crisis deepens in AMMA as staffer files police complaint

Kochi: The internal turmoil within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has escalated into a major crisis as a front-office manager has filed a fresh complaint with the Kochi city police commissioner, accusing general secretary Cuckoo Parameswaran and a few others of orchestrating a malicious conspiracy against her.

In her complaint, the front-office manager, Athulya, alleged that Cuckoo pressured an association security guard, Muhammad, to manufacture false and defamatory statements to ruin her reputation. To back her claims, Athulya released an audio recording where Muhammad admits to being threatened and coerced into giving false testimony.

Athulya had earlier lodged police complaints against AMMA executive member Neena Kurup and treasurer Unni Shivapal, alleging a toxic and hostile work environment. The complaints have painted a grim picture of AMMA’s headquarters, claiming employees are forced to labour “like slaves” even on public holidays and face character assassination, including baseless accusations of financial misappropriation.

However, Cuckoo dismissed the allegations as false and motivated by job dismissal, stating that Athulya was terminated due to unsatisfactory work during her probation.

Meanwhile, adding to the internal fractures, AMMA rejected a demand by member Ansiba Hasan to constitute a special committee, which was proposed to include Ramesh Pisharody and Maala Paravathy, to hear her grievances.

Ansiba had accused actor Tiny Tom and a section of office-bearers of subjecting her to alleged character assassination and making communal remarks targeting her. She also accused AMMA vice-president Lakshmi Priya of lodging a fake police complaint against her. Following the charges, president Swetha Menon directed to form a special committee to hear her grievances but Ansiba insisted on having certain members, accusing the current members of being “biased”.

The controversies have erupted after AMMA elected a new executive committee, following a mass resignation triggered by the Hema committee report. The brewing scandal underscores that despite leadership changes, deep-rooted factional feuds and disputes continue to plague the troubled association.