Mammooty and Mohanlal deny power centers operate in the Malayalam film inustry - Uproar over counch principle in industry by leading actresses - Jaisurya a main target

 

Malayalam Film Industry rocked by a new "Me Too” controversy after the alleged rape of Bhavna in a car years ago – Super Stars Mammooty and Mohan Lal deny there is any power center in Mollywood  

By TN Ashok 

 

The counch principle covering Bollywood from Tollywood to Mollywood and any other wood you can think of from the days of Madhur Bhandarkar was accused of sexual assault, a new controversy has rocked the hitherto silent waters of the Malayalam cinema, known to be a cut above Bollywood with ace directors from Adoor Gopalakrishnan to the new avant garde makers like Jithu Joseph (Drishyam), Rajiv Menon ( Kandu Kondein) and the like. Here is a list of top 30 directors.

• 

  1. Adoor Gopalakrishnan

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Mathilukal (1990)

  Adoor Gopalakrishnan is India's most acclaimed contemporary filmmaker. Born in 1941 in Kerala, a state in south India, he belongs to a family with strong links to the performing arts, especially Kathakali, a highly-stylised form of dance drama. From the age of eight Adoor began acting for the stage, later producing and directing over twenty plays, several written by him. He is the author of two books on the theatre as well as a book on the cinema, "The World of Cinema", for which he won a national award in 1983. In 1962 Adoor enrolled in the Film and Television Institute in Pune and graduated in 1965 with a diploma in Scriptwriting and Direction. The same year he founded the Chitralekha Film Society of Trivandrum as well as the Chitralekha Film Cooperative. Both played a key role in the development of film culture in Kerala. In 1972 Adoor made Swayamvaram/One's Own Choice, his first full-length feature film. It launched the New Cinema in Kerala and became one of the major films of the Indian New Wave. He has since made seven more films (along with over 25 shorts and documentaries), all of which have won major national and international awards: Kodiyettam/Ascent (1977); Elippathayam/Rat Trap (1981); Mukhamukham/Face to Face (1984); Anantaram/Monologue (1987); Mathilukal/The Walls (1990); Vidheyan/The Servile (1993), and Kathapurushan/Man of the Story (1995). Elippathayam received the prestigious British Film Institute Award in 1982; Mukhamukham won the FIPRESCI prize in 1985; Kathapurushan was honoured in India in 1995 with the National Award for Best Film. Retrospectives of Adoor's films have been held in Pesaro, Helsinki, La Rochelle, Nantes, Munich, and New York. All of Adoor's films draw on the history and culture of his native Kerala. Kerala's transition from feudalism to modernity serves as a backdrop to his complex meditations on the psychology of power, the nature of oppression, the corruption of patriarchy, and the coexistence of the modern and the feudal in post-Independence democratic India. Elippathayam, his masterpiece, vividly captures the descent into paranoia of a man trapped within his feudal universe. In Mukhamukham, a study in failed idealism, a Communist leader gives up on revolution and decides to go to sleep instead. Vidheyan, a parable-like story, deals with the abuse of power, the plight of the outsider, and the nature of a master-servant relationship. The more recent films--especially Anantaram, Mathilukal and Kathapurushan--display a new concern with interiority and reflexivity, foregrounding time, memory, consciousness, and the nature of storytelling itself. Adoor's genius lies in his ability to create visually complex films that operate on multiple levels, that are culture-specific and yet universal in significance.
• 

  2. Govindan Aravindan

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Composer

  Esthappan (1980)

  Govindan Aravindan was born on 21 January 1935 in Kottayam, Kerala, India. He was a director and writer, known for Esthappan (1980), Vasthuhara (1991) and Oridathu (1987). He died on 16 March 1991 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
• 

  3. Bharathan

  • Director
  • Art Director
  • Writer

  Thevar Magan (1992)

  Bharathan was born on 14 November 1947 in Vadakkancheri, Trichur, Kerala, British India. He was a director and art director, known for Thevar Magan (1992), Prayanam (1975) and Thakara (1979). He was married to K.P.A.C. Lalitha. He died on 29 July 1998 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India.
• 

  4. P. Padmarajan

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Actor

  Aparan (1988)

  P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who was known for his landmark works in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed.
  
  Padmarajan was born on 23 May 1946 in Muthukulam near Haripad in Alappuzha district as the sixth son of Thundathil Anantha Padmanabha Pillai and Njavarakkal Devaki Amma. After early schooling at Muthukulam, he studied at M. G. College and University College Trivandrum, graduating with a BSc in chemistry (1963). Subsequently, he learned Sanskrit from the scholar Cheppad Achyutha Warrier at Muthukulam. He then joined All India Radio, Trichur (1965), starting as a program announcer, and later settled at Poojappura, Trivandrum (1968); he would remain at All India Radio until 1986, when his busy involvement in films would prompt him to retire voluntarily.
  
  His stories deal with deceit, murder, romance, mystery, passion, jealousy, libertinism, anarchism, individualism, and the life of peripheral elements of society. Some of them are considered as among the best in Malayalam literature, his first novel Nakshathrangale Kaaval (With only the stars as witness) won the Kerala Sahithya Academy award (1972).
  
  He entered the world of Malayalam films by writing the screenplay for Bharathan's directorial debut Prayaanam (1975) to take first steps to be one of the most talented script writers to have graced Malayalam cinema.
  
  He later began to direct films based on his own screenplays, beginning with Peruvazhiyambalam (The Street as a Choultry) (1979), which are greatly popular among the common people as well as intellectuals and film critics, while maintaining richness in artistic and thematic originality and excellence. Padmarajan was a great experimenter who explored all walks of life in his works. His screen plays had such hitherto-unheard of features and subjects - such as casting rain as a character in Thoovanthumbikal (Dragonflies in the Spraying Rain), friendship between two young school girls in Desadanakili Karayarilla (Migratory Birds Don't Cry), unusual climax (By traditional standards) in Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (Vineyards for us to dwell) and Oridaththoru Phayalvaan (There Lived a Wrestler). Many of his films bear the mark of his romanticism.
  
  He is celebrated for his possibly unparalleled attention to detail in his screenplays. Some of his scripts are arguably the smoothest narratives ever penned in the Malayalam language. They are also ample proof for his keen observation, acute perception, and astute portrayal of human relationships and emotions. Many of his films have stunning and haunting climaxes, most of them not commonly portrayed in Malayalam movies. His characters were portrayed with great sensitivity and intensity on the screen and many of the scenes are generously sprinkled with humor. The dialogues of characters are quite natural, in the language of the common man, and yet have a subtle lyrical quality.
  
  Indeed, a just case may be made that his directorial merit flowed easily from his exquisitely crafted screenplays: he never directed a film based on a script written by someone else (unlike other Malayalam film directors of comparable stature, say, Bharathan and K. G. George), and rarely adapted his script from a story not his own. Consequently, he had an unusually intimate knowledge of the characters in his films in combination with his mastery of the script.
• 

  5. A.K. Lohithadas

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Actor

  Thaniyavartanam (1987)

  A.K. Lohithadas was born on 10 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Kerala, India. He was a writer and director, known for Thaniyavartanam (1987), Kasthuriman (2003) and Joker (2000). He was married to Sindhu. He died on 28 June 2009 in Kochi, Kerala, India.
• 

  6. Shaji N. Karun

  • Cinematographer
  • Director
  • Writer

  Piravi (1989)

  Shaji Neelakantan Karun was born on new years day 1950 as the eldest son of Mr. N. Karunakaran and Mrs. Chandramati in Kollam district of the state of Kerala, India. The family moved to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state in 1963. He did his schooling in Palkkulangara H.S., and took a batchelor's degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1971 he entered the Filim and Television Institute of India where he took his diploma in Cinematography. He won the President's medal on passing out in 1975. Got married to Anasuya Warrier, who incidentally was his neighbour in Trivandrum for quite some time again on New years day 1975. After a brief stint in the south Indian city of Madras, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram in 1976 where he got an appoinment as film officer in the newly formed state Film Development Corporation. His first son Anil was born on 19 June 1976. His association with the legendary malayalam film maker, G.Aravindan Began at this time and it led to Shaji defining a new outlook in cinematography in Malayalam cinema. His second son Appu was born on 6 June 1981. He made his first major carrer shift in 1988 wher he directed his first feature, Piravi, which received much critical acclaim worldwide. In 1994 he completed his second film Swaham.
• 

  7. M.T. Vasudevan Nair

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Actor

  Nirmalyam (1973)

  M.T. Vasudevan Nair was born on 9 August 1933 in Kudallur, Kerala, British India. He is a writer and director, known for Nirmalyam (1973), Kadavu (1991) and Oru Cheru Punchiri (2000). He is married to Kalamandalam Saraswathi.
• 

  8. Priyadarshan

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Oppam (2016)

  Priyadarshan is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked in the Hindi and Malayalam film industry for almost 40 years and has directed over 90 films.
  
  He completed his early education at Government Model School in Thiruvananthapuram. He later pursued his bachelor's degree from Mahatma Gandhi College and Master of Arts in Philosophy from University College Thiruvananthapuram. Priyadarshan was a voracious reader, which sparked his interest in writing and led him to write short plays and skits for All India Radio in college.
  
  He began his career in the Malayalam Film Industry in the early 1980s. He started his career as a director with Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984) in 1984. The film did surprisingly well and ran for almost 100 days in theatres across Kerala. He continued this slapstick comedy style and later made Oodarathuammava Aalariyam (1984) and Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985).
  
  Later that year, he demonstrated versatility by directing the crime drama Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985). In the same year, Priyadarshan made his first film with Mohanlal titled Punnaram Cholli Cholli (1985).
  
  1988 was a landmark year in Priyadarshan's career. He directed Vellanakalude Naadu (1988) with Mohanlal in the lead role. It was a political satire crime film that revolved around the prevalent corruption in the country. The film was the biggest hit of that year and successfully ran for 200 days in theatres.
  
  Later that year, he directed and released Chithram (1988), his career's biggest hit. The film completed 366 days in the theatres and broke all the records of his previous collections.
  
  Later, these records were broken by his other film, Kilukkam (1991), released in 1991. Kilukkam starred Mohanlal, Revathi, and Jagathy Sreekumar in lead roles. Priyadarshan's next three releases - Abhimanyu (1991), Advaitham (1991), and Thenmavin Kombath (1994) were also commercially successful and ran for 100 days in the theatres.
  
  Priyadarshan actively worked in the Malayalam film industry for almost two decades (the 1980s and 1990s). After this, he took a short break from Malayalam cinema. He then started focusing on Hindi cinema. He worked as a director and screenwriter in Hindi cinema for nearly a decade.
  
  Priyadarshan debuted in Hindi cinema with Muskurahat (1992), a remake of his film Kilukkam. While the movie didn't perform well at the box office, he made a comeback with the action-crime film Gardish (1993), starring Jackie Shroff. The film was a massive hit, earning two Filmfare Awards for Best Action and Best Art Direction.
  
  In 2000, Priyadarshan directed the comedy movie Hera Pheri (2000) starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. The movie is an Indian cult classic and is considered one of the best comedy films in the history of Hindi cinema. Priyadarshan's career in Bollywood took off after Hera Pheri (2000), and he went on to direct comedy blockbusters such as Hungama (2003), Garam Masala (2005), and Phir Hera Pheri (2006).
  
  In 2021, he directed the period drama Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021), set in the 16th century. The film, starring Mohanlal, earned Priyadarshan the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.
  
  Priyadarshan has been awarded several state and national awards for his work in Hindi and Malayalam cinema. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics) for Virasat (1997) in 1997 and the Filmfare Award for Best Director in 2009 for his movie Kanchivaram (2008). In addition to his cinema accolades, the then President of India also awarded Priyadarshan a Padma Shri in 2012 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
• 

  9. Sibi Malayil

  • Director
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
  • Actor

  Bharatham (1991)

  Sibi Malayil was born on 2 May 1956 in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. He is a director and assistant director, known for Bharatham (1991), Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum (2003) and August 1 (1988). He has been married to Bala Sibi since 1989.
• 

  10. Fazil

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer

  Manichithrathazhu (1993)

  Fazil was born in 1953 in Alleppey, Kerala, India. He is a writer and director, known for Manichithrathazhu (1993), Poove Poochudava (1985) and Killer (1992).
• 

  11. Jayaraj

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Desadanam (1996)

  Jayaraj was born on 4 August 1960 in Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is a director and writer, known for Desadanam (1996), Karunam (2000) and Ottaal (2014).
• 12. T.V. Chandran

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Actor

  Dany (2002)

  T.V. Chandran was born on 23 November 1950 in Thalassery, Kerala, India. He is a director and writer, known for Dany (2002), Susanna (2000) and Ponthan Mada (1994).
• 

  13. I.V. Sasi

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Eeta (1978)

  I.V. Sasi was born on 28 March 1948 in Kerala, British India [now India]. He was a director and writer, known for Eeta (1978), Itha Ivide Vare (1977) and Karimpin Poovinakkare (1985). He was married to Seema. He died on 24 October 2017 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
• 

  14. Sathyan Anthikad

  • Director
  • Music Department
  • Writer

  Njan Prakashan (2018)

  Sathyan Anthikad was born on 3 January 1955 in Thrissur, Kerala, India. He is a director and writer, known for Njan Prakashan (2018), Thooval Kottaram (1996) and Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999). He is married to Nimmi Sathyan.
• 

  15. Sreenivasan

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director

  Sandesham (1991)

  Sreenivasan was born on 6 April 1956 in Kannur, Kerala, India. He is an actor and writer, known for Sandesham (1991), Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989) and Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990).
• 

  16. T. Hariharan

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009)

  Hariharan entered the Malayalam film industry in 1965, and has so far directed more than 60 films, many of which were highly successful both commercially and critically. His movies have mostly explored the complexities of social issues and human relationships, set in the backdrop of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. His films such as 'Valarthumrugangal', 'Panchagni, 'Nakhakshathangal', 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', 'Sargam', 'Parinayam' and 'Ennu Swantham Janakikutty' have entered the Indian Panorama of International Film Festival. He has also been honored with a Diploma by the Pyongyan Film Festival of North Korea for 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha'. In 1993, 'Sargam' won him the State Award for the Best Director and also National Award for wholesome and popular entertainment. The film also received special honor at the Fukuoka and Swiss film festivals. His following film, 'Parinayam', won the National Award for social issues and took part in about 7 film festivals across the world. 'Ennu Swantham Janakikutty' was the inaugural film at the Korean film festival (2000), and it also took part in the London film festival(2000).
  
  Apart from these recognitions he has also won the Filmfare and the prestigious Ramu Kariat Awards for his works on multiple occasions.
  
  His latest film, 'Pazhassi Raja', is his most ambitious project yet. It is based on the life of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the first revolter against the British East India Company. This historical epic, written by one of the most gifted writers of India, 'Jnanapeeth' M.T. Vasudevan Nair and produced by Gokulam Gopalan, will be released on the 15th of August.
• 17. Joshiy

  • Director

  Porinju Mariyam Jose (2019)

  Joshiy was born on 19 July 1952 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He is a director, known for Porinju Mariyam Jose (2019), Thanthram (1988) and Naduvaazhikal (1989). He is married to Sindhu.
• 18. Ramu Kariat

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Actor

  Chemmeen (1965)

  Ramu Kariat was born on 1 February 1928 in Engandiyur, Kerala, India. He was a director and writer, known for Chemmeen (1965), Minnaminungu (1957) and Nellu (1974). He died on 10 February 1979 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
• 

  19. K.S. Sethumadhavan

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  The Other Side (1990)

  K.S. Sethumadhavan was born in 1931 in Palakkad, Kerala, India. He was a director and writer, known for The Other Side (1990), Chattakkari (1974) and Nammavar (1994). He was married to Valsala. He died on 24 December 2021 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
• 

  20. A. Vincent

  • Director
  • Cinematographer
  • Writer

  Prem Nagar (1974)

  A. Vincent was born on 14 June 1928 in Calicut, Kerala, India. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Prem Nagar (1974), Naam Pirandha Mann (1977) and Vayanadan Thampan (1978). He was married to Margret. He died on 25 February 2015 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
• 21. Blessy

  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
  • Writer
  • Director

  The Goat Life (2024)

  Blessy was born in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. He is known for The Goat Life (2024), Kaazhcha (2004) and Thanmathra (2005).
• 

  22. Kamal

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

  Celluloid (2013)

  Kamal was born on 28 November 1957 in Thrissur, Kerala, India. He is a director and writer, known for Celluloid (2013), Megamalhar (2001) and Nammal (2002). He is married to Saburabi. They have two children.
• 

  23. John Abraham

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

  Donkey in a Brahmin Village (1977)

  Malayalam director who studied economics at a college near Kottayam. His grandfather educated him and gave him his first camera. He worked as an insurance salesman in Bellary. Then he went to FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) and studied under Bengali director Ritwik Kumar Ghatak. He started with a student film. His first film was Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile (1971) made in Tamil. He also wrote his own films. He later lived a nomadic lifestyle in the 70s and depended on support from his friends and colleagues. He suffered from alcoholism and died an accidental death.
• 

  24. Ranjith

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Actor

  Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010)

  Ranjith is known for Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010), Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009) and Indian Rupee (2011).
• 

  25. Shyamaprasad

  • Director
  • Actor
  • Writer

  The Sea Within (2007)

  Shyamaprasad was born in 1960 in Kerala, India. He is a director and actor, known for The Sea Within (2007), Lady Tiger (2010) and Agni Sakshi (1999). He is married to Sheeba. They have two children.
• 26. Bijukumar Damodaran

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer

  Trees Under the Sun (2019)

  A three time India's national award winning filmmaker, Dr Biju (Dr.Bijukumar Damodaran) is considered to be one of the most important contemporary voices in Indian cinema. Being a true visionary who brought authentic Indian stories to the international audience, his first film "Saira" screened in the Cannes film festival in 2007 under "Cinema of the world "section. Since then he has made 13 films. His films have been screened at many international film festivals and won numerous awards including coveted "Golden Goblet" award for best artistic achievement at Shanghai Film Festival . His films screened at the festivals includes Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Moscow, Cairo, Iran (Fajr), Eurasia Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Jogja NETPAC Indonesia, Oporto, Dhaka, Goa , IFFK etc.
  
  He has been invited as a member of the jury in many well-known film festivals across the world including Iran, Russia, and Indonesia etc. He was worked as jury member for India's National Film Awards 2012 and India's Oscar selection committee 2015
• 

  27. Salim Ahmed

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer

  Abu, Son of Adam (2011)

  Salim Ahmed is known for Abu, Son of Adam (2011), Pathemari (2015) and Kunjananthante Kada (2013).
• 

  28. Jeethu Joseph

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer

  Drishyam (2013)

  Jeethu Joseph is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He has also worked in a few Tamil and Bollywood films. Jeethu made his directional debut with the 2007 police procedural film Detective and later went on to direct five successful films: the family drama Mummy & Me (2010), the comedy My Boss (2012), the thriller Memories (2013), the family-thriller Drishyam (2013), the revenge-drama Oozham (2016) and the action-thriller Aadhi (2018). Jeethu gained popularity after the release of Drishyam, which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever. Jeethu made his Tamil debut with Papanasam (2015), Thambi (2019) and Hindi with The Body (2019).
• 29. Shaji Kailas

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

  Kerala Cafe (2009)

  Shaji Kailas was born on 15 August 1965 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. He is a director and writer, known for Kerala Cafe (2009), News (1989) and Simhasanam 2021 (2012). He is married to Annie.
• 

  30. Lal Jose

  • Director
  • Actor
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

  Diamond Necklace (2012)

  Lal Jose, a proficient Indian film maker, was born in Valapad in Thrissur district, Kerala to Jose and Lilly. Later the family moved to Ottapalam owing to personal commitments. Lal Jose did his schooling at NSS KPT School and NSS College Ottapalam. He is married to Leena. The couple has two daughters, Irine and Catherine. Initially he worked as an Assistant Director with Kamal (V) in 16 films, from Pradeshika Vaarthakal (1989) to Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997). He worked as an associate directo

d with ace directors from Adoor Gopalakrishnan to the new avant garde makes like Saji, Rajiv Menon and the like. 

Amid the storm in Mollywood surrounding sexual assault allegations against some top actors and directors, legendary actor Mammooty has said there is "no power center" in Malayalam cinema and appealed to police to investigate the allegations honestly. 

Mammooty’s reaction follows another top actor of the Malayalam filmdom, that neither was he a part of any power group in Mollywood, nor was he aware of any such group. In a Facebook post, 72-year-old Mammootty said cinema is a reflection of the society and the good and bad in the society are also present in the film industry. 

The Justice Hema Committee, he said, was formed to suggest solutions and recommend measures after something that should never have happened. Welcoming the recommendations of the panel, Mammooty said police investigation is proceeding swiftly. 

"The full version of the Justice Hema committee report is before the court. Let the police investigate honestly. Let the court decide the punishments. There is no 'powerhouse' in cinema," he said. The veteran actor said the norm is that the actors' organisation responds to such issues first. He said he waited this long for this very reason. 

The Malayalam film industry has been rocked by allegations of sexual assault and harassment against some top actors and filmmakers. Actors Jayasurya Sidhique, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu and director Ranjith are among the prominent film personalities who now face cases of sexual harassment or assault. Several actors, including Minu Muneer and Sonia Malhaar, have brought serious allegations of sexual abuse. 

The flood of allegations comes against the backdrop of the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report last week. The 235-page report, published after redacting names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by 10-15 male producers, directors, and actors.  

The three-member Justice Hema Committee was set up by the state government in 2017 and submitted its report in 2019. The report was not made public so far due to legal challenges to its release. 

"I Only Hope...": Actor Jayasurya Breaks Silence On Sex Harassment Charges 

"Only Here To Set Things Right": Actor Mohanlal On Kerala MeToo Allegations 

Hidden Cameras In Movie Caravans To Film Women Change, Alleges Actor 

 The uproar has led to the dissolution of the top panel of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists or AMMA. The panel, led by Mohanlal as president, said it is taking moral responsibility "in light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee". 

A Special Investigation Team is now probing the allegations. In a statement last evening, Mohanlal said the film industry is answerable to the questions raised, but the actors' association is targeted and blamed for everything. "I am not part of any power group in Malayalam cinema and not aware of the existence of any such group. I have heard about it for the first time," the actor said. 

On the allegations against AMMA, he said, "AMMA is not an outfit with trade union nature. It was launched for the welfare of its members.... The entire film industry is answerable to the questions regarding the Hema panel. "There are several associations in the Malayalam film industry, but AMMA is blamed for everything. "It is not right to crucify an outfit alone for all these issues," Mohanlal said. 

Source: NDTV, a New Delhi based Indian TV network, now owned by the Adani Group of Industries.