KOCHI: Amid demand by Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) that Vijay Babu, who is accused in a rape case, should be suspended from Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), the actor-producer attended the annual general body meeting of the association of held in Kochi on Sunday. WCC registered protests against Vijay Babu attending the meeting.
AMMA general secretary Idavela Babu said that the organization will act according to the court verdict in the case against Vijay Babu. He said the case is sub-judice and anything can be said on it only after the court pronounces its verdict. On why AMMA is not taking action against Vijay Babu, despite the internal complaint redressal committee (ICC) recommending for it, he said that Vijay Babu stepped down from the executive committee of AMMA on his own. AMMA vice-president Shwetha Menon, who had earlier tendered her resignation from the ICC demanding that Babu should step down, said that the chapter is over with the actor-producer deciding to stay away from the executive committee. Actors Maala Parvathi and Kukoo Parameswaran had also resigned from the ICC demanding action against Vijay Babu.
Idavela Babu also said that Vijay Babu is a member of many clubs in Kochi. "None of the clubs have expelled him. AMMA also is like a club," he said. Vijay Babu attended the general body meeting as an ordinary member of AMMA, he added.
The AMMA general body also decided to recommend the executive committee to expel actor Shammy Thilakan from the actors' forum for his alleged failure in keeping the organization's discipline. Though the AMMA leadership sought explanation from Thilakan thrice, he didn't respond. So, the executive committee to be held soon will take a decision to expel Thilakan. A new ICC will be constituted soon, Idavela Babu said. Besides, AMMA president Mohanlal and executive committee members, around 250 actors attended the annual general body held on Sunday.
In the meeting it was also decided to increase the membership fee to Rs 2,05,000. It is in the wake of growing expenditure that the fee has been increased, the AMMA leaders said. AMMA will soon conduct a couple of stage shows in association with some Malayalam television channels. The plan to produce a movie is still on, the office-bearers of AMMA said.
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