Ready to speak to those who quit AMMA, says Shwetha Menon

Actor Shwetha Menon struck a conciliatory note after being elected as the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) on Friday.

The 51-year-old said she is ready to speak to members who resigned from the organisation on various reasons when asked about the actors who quit in protest against the position taken by the body in the case pertaining to the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a woman actor in Kochi eight years ago.

She declined to respond on whether anybody from within had acted behind the First Information Report registered against her under Section 67 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 on charges of making financial gains through her roles in movies having alleged vulgar and obscene content. “It’s sub-judice,” she said. The Kerala High Court later stayed the criminal proceedings against her.

Shwetha, whose filmography included Paradesi, Salt N’ Pepper, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, Rathinirvedam, and Kalimannu, said she had always echoed the view that those accused in cases related to assault on women should not contest in the elections held in the association.

Kukku Parameswaran

Kukku Parameswaran, who was elected as the first woman general secretary of the association, said the newly formed executive committee will discuss all issues with due seriousness. Asked whether it took so long for the body to have women as its president and general secretary, she said such changes required time to become a reality, though it will happen one day.

Kukku Parameswaran

A theatre artiste, fashion designer and dancer, Kukku blamed the media for portraying the members as ‘male’ and ‘female.’ ‘‘We are all one,’’ said the actor whose movies include Ore Thooval Pakshikal, Kazhakam, Cotton Mary, and Nizhalkuthu.