Mohanlal resigns as MeToo hits veterans

Following the cascading 'metoo moment, which has swamped Mollywood after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, senior actor Mohanlal on Tuesday resigned as President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA).

- FPJ News Service

He had maintained a studious silence all this while along with the likes of senior actor Mammooty.

In the last few days, pressure has been mounting on Mohanlal and AMMA with protestors taking out rallies and laying wreaths in front of the office of the association, demanding action. This follows an avalanche of sexual assault and rape alle gations against some of Mollywood's biggest names, including AMMA's general secretary Baburaj, joint general secretary and veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.

Mohanlal had called for a meeting of the executive committee on Monday but had to call it off at the last moment as more reports of sexual assault poured in, especially against senior office-bearers.

Virtually cornered and unable to make a statement, Mohanlal put in his papers; soon all members of the film body's executive committee followed suit rendering AMMA almost defunct.

A statement from AMMA said the top decision-making body had taken "moral responsibility" and dissolved itself "in light of allegations made by some actors against some members of the committee".