Padmapriya Slams AMMA, Criticizes Kerala Government's Actions

Malayalam actress Padmapriya Janakiraman has criticized AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) for being disorganized and ineffective. She described the mass resignation of AMMA’s executive committee as irresponsible and highlighted the organization's lack of leadership and insight. Padmapriya expressed disappointment that the resignations came as a surprise and criticized film bodies for addressing sexual harassment merely as allegations rather than tackling the deeper power dynamics enabling such issues.

She also condemned the Kerala government for delaying the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report for over four and a half years, and she questioned the efficacy of the special investigating team set up to address these concerns. Padmapriya recounted her own negative experiences in the industry, noting the pervasive power dynamics and dismissive attitudes towards women.

Padmapriya was particularly surprised by Mohanlal and Mammootty’s alleged lack of awareness regarding the challenges faced by women in Malayalam cinema, as mentioned in the report. She urged both actors to understand and address these issues if they were indeed unaware.

The release of the Justice Hema Committee Report has led to more women actresses in Malayalam cinema sharing their traumatic experiences. Tamil actress Radikaa Sarathkumar revealed that hidden cameras were installed in the caravans of a Malayalam film she worked on, with footage being secretly monitored by some crew members, though she did not disclose specific details of the incidents.

Padmapriya, known for her roles in films like 'Thavamai Thavamirundhu' and 'Pazhassi Raja', began her acting career in 2004 with the Telugu film 'Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi'.