Exclusive: AMMA disappoints again, stalls decision on suspending Dileep

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes’ (AMMA) reply to the three women actors - Revathy, Padmapriya and Parvathy, shows that the film body does not want to offend actor Dileep - who is accused of masterminding the abduction and sexual harassment of his female colleague from the industry.

In a letter sent by Edavela Babu, the General Secretary of AMMA, to the three women actors on October 11, AMMA Executive Committee has made it clear that they will not take a decision as to whether Dileep has to be suspended and have instead delegated this duty to the General Body.

The letter stated that the Executive Committee will  have to take into account the views of the General Body, concerning the sensitivity and seriousness of the matter. Hiding under technicalities, the letter claimed that the decision to reinstate Dileep was taken by a majority decision during a General Body meeting on June 24, 2018 and therefore, a decision as to whether to suspend him or not should also be taken by the General Body itself.

AMMA seems to be finding new reasons for not suspending Dileep, as in April 2010, the EC did terminate Thilakan's membership without consulting the General Body.

Following AMMA’s decision to reinstate actor Dileep into the body, four actors including the survivor had resigned from the film body. Regarding the reinstatement of these actors, the letter stated that they are free to join as members of AMMA, only if they apply for membership as per the bye-laws of the body.

Actor Revathy, on behalf of the actors Padmapriya and Parvathy had written a letter to AMMA on October 5, in which it was stated that AMMA must come up with a final decision regarding their stand on Dileep before October 9. The main objective stated in this letter, which is the third letter being sent to AMMA, was that till the court comes out with a verdict regarding the actor, AMMA should suspend DIleep from the body. The three actors are part of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which has appealed strongly against AMMA reinstating Dileep.

The three actors had previously sent two letters regarding the issue on September 13 and 17 respectively.

An Executive Committee meeting of AMMA was held on October 6 in Kochi and following the meeting, actor Mohanlal, President of AMMA said that the decision about actor Dileep’s membership in the film organisation would be taken at the next general body meeting. Mohanlal has also reportedly said that the body cannot say when the next general body meeting would be held, bringing the decision to oust Dileep to a standstill.