Mollywood’s MeToo Deluge: Mohanlal resigns as AMMA President

Southern superstar Mohanlal has quit as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), days after allegations of sexual assault and rape hit several top names in the Mollywood industry.

According to reports, all members of the film body’s executive committee have resigned.

The film body said a new committee would be formed following the elections in two months.

The Mollywood or the Malayalam film industry received a shock after top names faced sexual assault complaints following the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report recently.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level meeting amid mounting pressure and decided to establish a seven-member special team to probe the atrocities women actors and others faced in the industry.

With tension rising, Director Ranjith and actor Siddique resigned from state-run film academy and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A).

Malayalam actress Minu Muneer has accused her four actors of sexual harassment amid the shocking revelations of abuse of women prevalent in the industry made by the Justice Hema Committee report, media reports said.

In a Facebook post, Muneer has accused Mukesh, Maniyanpiilla Raju, Idavela Babu and Jayasurya of physical and verbal abuse on the set of a 2013 film.

“In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable. As a result, I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai.

“I had spoken out against the abuse in a newspaper article. I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against them for their heinous actions,” the actress wrote on Facebook.

Later speaking to NDTV, Muneer said, “I had a bitter experience while shooting for a film. I had gone to the toilet and when I came out, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and I ran out.”

In another incident, Muneer claimed she had approached Association of Malayalam Movie Artists secretary Idavela Babu to apply for membership.

Muneer said she was physically abused by Idavela Babu at his flat where she was called on the pretense of the membership application.

Muneer claimed Idavela Babu had rejected her application to become a member of the association after she turned down his advances.

Maniyanpiilla Raju, one of the accused, has demanded a probe into the allegations claiming the accusations are backed by several vested interests.

Ranjith-Sreelekha

Bengali movie actress Sreelekha Mitra, who is now at the forefront of RG Kar protests in Kolkata, alleged that Ranjith had misbehaved with her at his residence in 2009.

Sreelekha had reportedly gone there to discuss a project.

The actress claimed she felt uncomfortable by “subtle advances” by Ranjith.