AMMA dodges mother of all issues, KPAC Lalitha’s remarks painful, says Parvathy

Kochi: The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) is trying to evade the issues raised by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), actress Parvathy has said.

She was responding to AMMA secretary Siddique's charge that the association was biased against the February 17, 2017 actress attack victim.

“There are divisions even in AMMA and we don’t expect anything from them,” Parvathy said reacting to Siddique's statements that the points raised by WCC were 'frivolous and unnecessary.'

“The main poser put forth by the WCC is simple and straightforward; it is whether actor Dileep is part of AMMA or not,” Parvathy said.

WCC was not engaged in any attempt to sideline or isolate Mohanlal or Mammootty, she said.

Siddique should not have justified the cyber-attacks on the WCC, she said.

“We have very little hope in AMMA. They say no action can be taken against Dileep unless he is proven guilty. In that case, why are they not applying the same yardstick to the victim?” asked Parvathy.

She felt that the issue was now being turned into an opportunity to settle personal scores. “We have other things to do rather than wait for their decision on the matters we raised,” she added.

“Even 18 months after the shocking attack on the actress, what action has AMMA taken? Now they are asking us to tender an apology! How should we respond to such demands?” Parvathy asked.

“AMMA’s members are very senior artists. Its bylaws deal with many important matters. We are curious which among the laws we have violated. We approached the public as we did not get a proper reply from AMMA,” she explained.

“We too have video and other documents related to the issues we raised,” said Parvathy reacting to Siddique’s statement in this regard.

The actress made it clear that WCC had never said that AMMA was not an effective organisation. “But we don’t understand why they are insulting filmmaker Ashique Abu. AMMA office-bearers are even ridiculing the government,” she said.

Parvathy defended Ashique Abu’s stand, saying that it was a ‘brave step.’ “Siddique makes fun of Ashique Abu, who wanted a separate cell for women. How will he understand women’s problems?” said Parvathy.

She also said that KPAC Lalitha’s statement hurt her. Lalitha had commented that harassment of women existed in every sector.

“I have worked with her in many films and hold her in high esteem. I know the real issues faced by actresses or other women in the film industry in the contemporary age. So, the words of a senior actress really hurt,” she said.

“We are acquainted with all members of AMMA and have worked with most of them. We are not targeting anyone in particular,” said Parvathy.

Siddique had said that actor Jagadeesh was only the treasurer of AMMA and not the spokesperson. He also said that he was speaking on behalf of AMMA after consulting actors Mohanlal and Edavela Babu.

“I have not seen Jagadeesh’s statement and so is unaware of its contents,” said Siddique, claiming that his press conference held in Kochi was the official one.

However, according to Jagadeesh, he had issued his statement after discussions with AMMA president Mohanlal and that its copies had been sent to all other office-bearers also, including Siddique.

Jagadeesh also claimed that he was the spokesperson of AMMA. As a disciplined member of AMMA, he had no intention of replying to Siddique’s statement, said Jagadeesh.