‘Shouldn’t men be the ones ruling?’; Kollam Thulasi sparks row with sexist remark – Joke or serious?

The recently concluded AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) elections, which saw actress Shweta Menon scripting history as the first-ever woman president, have unfortunately been overshadowed by a controversial remark from actor Kollam Thulasi.


In a video shared by ICG Instagram handle, speaking to an online channel about the outcome, Thulasi said, “Shouldn’t men be the ones ruling? Women should be beneath us.” Although he later claimed it was meant as a joke, the video clip quickly went viral, sparking outrage on social media.

Was it a joke or serious?

On the other hand, there seems to be a sarcastic tone in Kollam Thulasi's comments. In the video, the actor says, ‘Yes, take this statement – men should be above women’.

Kollam Thulasi concludes by saying, ‘I said this in a fun way, okay?’ This suggests that the actor was indeed speaking in a light-hearted manner or mocking online media for twisting news.

Shweta Menon scripts history with grace

Despite the controversy, Shweta Menon's win is surely a milestone. Winning with a margin of 20 votes against her opponent Devan, Shweta addressed the press with humility and inclusiveness. “Such a fiercely contested election has never taken place in AMMA before. I would never say Devan was defeated — instead, I believe I have received his blessings,” she said.



She further emphasized the need for unity within the fraternity and assured that AMMA would welcome members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) wholeheartedly.

New leadership team takes charge

Along with Shweta Menon’s historic win, the elections saw Kukku Parameswaran elected as General Secretary, defeating Ravindran. Lakshmipriya and Jayan Cherthala were chosen as Vice Presidents, after a contest that also included Naser Latheef.

The outcome marks a significant shift in the association’s leadership structure as Shwetha Menon puts it, "AMMA is now a woman.""Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2."