Shwetha Menon, Kukku Parameswaran create history as first women to lead Malayalam actors’ body AMMA

For the first time since its inception, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) will be led by women.

In a keenly contested election held in Kochi, Kerala, on Friday (August 15, 2025), actors Shwetha Menon and Kukku Parameswaran were elected president and general secretary, defeating actors Devan and Raveendran, respectively.

Kukku Parameswaran 

Over 290 of the total 504 members cast their votes to elect the executive committee for the next three years.

Actor Unni Shivapal is the new treasurer. Jayan Cherthala and Lakshmipriya were elected to the post of vice presidents.

The actors’ body never had a woman as its president or general secretary since its three-decades-old existence, though women had been elected to the post of vice president, joint secretary and member of the executive committee earlier.

The election was necessitated after the previous committee led by Mohanlal resigned in August 2024 following allegations of sexual harassment against some of its members after the release of the K. Hema Committee report that probed the problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

The candidature of Ms. Menon had received a boost after senior actors, including Mohanlal, and Mammootty, agreed to the growing clamour for having women in lead roles in the association.

Senior actor Jagadeesh, who had initially filed the nomination for the post of president, backed out after he extended support for a woman president.