There has been so much confusion since Sunday after the 25th general body meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (A.M.M.A.), regarding the conversations that happened at the venue in Kochi away from media glare. Not many were privy to the discussions at the meeting.
While the members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) raised their objections to the newly-formed amendments to the bylaws, A.M.M.A. president Mohanlal claimed to reporters that no opposition existed. A section of media reports said that at the meeting, there was no mention of the actress who survived a sexual assault allegedly masterminded by her actor colleague Dileep. At the same time, a few actors vouch for supportive voices from within for the actresses, including the survivor, who quit the A.M.M.A. last year after the organisation failed to act against the accused. There are also reports that Sri Devika initiated a dialogue on reinstating the resigned actresses following which Mammootty offered support to the actresses.
What actually transpired behind the closed doors? For long, the voices heard have been of those from the WCC; what has A.M.M.A. members got to say?
‘Members listened patiently as I spoke’
– Sri Devika
Mammootty was on the dais explaining that the amendments to the bylaws of the A.M.M.A. had some discrepancies, which had to be corrected. When he spoke about the organisation as a family, I stood up and asked him if it wasn’t the responsibility of the family to call back the survivor who is part of us. While I raised my concerns, he listened to them and responded. At the end of it, he assured that he can facilitate their re-induction to the fold without paying the mandatory membership fee if they submitted an application. Personally, I am of the opinion that the resigned actresses should return and initiate changes in the age-old system.
I travelled from Dubai to Kochi for this sole purpose – to raise my concerns. As someone who sees myself in the survivor, though I personally don’t know her, I am concerned about the well-being of my colleagues in the industry. As someone who has had a traumatic experience – though not to this extent – all I want is a safe and secure workplace. Hers should be the last bad experience for a woman in the film industry. If I talked, I believe, many others will feel confident enough to share their thoughts.
It was not just me who spoke; Revathy, Parvathy Thiruvoth, Joy Mathew and Shammy Thilakan aired their views on the amendments. I guess we are all raising voices for an acknowledgement from the A.M.M.A. about the issues; addressal and redressal come later. When a few members from the executive committee interjected, Mammootty asked them to let me finish. All the members listened patiently as I spoke. None of them protested. That, I believe, is a hopeful sign. Going through the complex technicalities of the bylaws, Mammootty asked the executive committee to freeze it and they did. Considering all the past events, this is a huge welcome change.
‘equal representation must’
– Joy Mathew
My demand was for equal representation. Why reserve certain positions for women when they are eligible for the top posts? Let there be 50-50 representation of men and women in the executive committee and disciplinary committee. I also raised my objection, both in writing and in person, against the amendment that barred people from making statements in media against the interests of the organisation. After Revathy, Parvathy, Shammy and I raised our opposition to it, the association effected a temporary freeze on the move to amend the bylaws. When Sri Devika asked what has been done to support the survivor, Mammootty said that he had personally met her on behalf of A.M.M.A. and offered her all help.
I also welcome the suggestion to reinduct the actresses. Being part of WCC that represents all woman employees in the industry, the actresses should come back. Let them express their resistance democratically by staying within the organisation. And contrary to the tradition, if a second panel comes up, let there be an election in A.M.M.A.
'Glad to see people waking up from patriarchal slumber'
– Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
I strongly feel that there’s nothing to even discuss regarding bringing back the actresses to the fold. That includes the survivor, too. After what she has gone through, there’s absolutely no question of her staying away from the organisation. She is more than welcome. Like Mammootty said, the doors are always open and they can walk in any time. As someone who believes in women’s rights, I am very supportive of WCC and their activities and would like to be with them as an A.M.M.A. member.
Regarding the amendments to the bylaws, I feel that more thoughts and discussions are needed before passing them. The A.M.M.A. is a genuine charity organisation with only good intentions, but it has been ignorantly overlooking the lapses in certain provisions. I am not being diplomatic or unfair. I am very much against the bylaw amendments and am of the opinion that securing a majority is not a good enough reason to go with rules. This meeting is more of a family get-together and fraternity for most members; not everyone would think about the legal technicalities of rules.
As a postgraduate in gender studies, what I feel is that patriarchy is running so deep in the system that people don’t even realise that it is patriarchy playing. The film industry, too, is no exception. This has been going on for generations and people have got used to it. But I am glad to see people waking up from patriarchal slumber. I am for equal representation of women in panels, including ICC, and doesn’t want power limited to a couple of members. Awareness is slowly happening here too.
‘Not all bylaws can be passed by just claps’
– Shammy Thilakan
Freezing of the amendments to the bylaws happened after I pointed out the legal errors in it. The WCC objection was also another reason. Not all bylaws can be passed by just claps. There are a lot of legal validity issues in this matter. Any amendment to the bylaws is valid only if it is done to the original parent bylaw of 1994. Even the 2000 amendment made to oust my father is invalid. To include women-friendly provisions, there need not be any new amendment. The parental bylaw itself accommodates all the requirements. All these happened because of ignorance of the members. And to err is human; all we can do is to forgive them and not nurse any hatred. Point out the mistakes and give them a chance to correct themselves. That’s what I believe in.
The same is applicable in the case of the actresses who resigned. I am someone who stayed away from A.M.M.A. for nearly 10 years, but when Mohanlal invited me, I returned happily. I am one of the first proud members of the A.M.M.A. and I am happy to be back home. As disciplined members, the actresses should realise that theirs was an impulsive act and come back. Anyway, the accused in the case is not part of the organisation now; they don’t have to stay away.
