Siddique, AMMA Basic Secretary, Resigns Following Sexual Assault Allegations

Famous Malayalam actor and producer Siddique resigned as the final secretary of the Affiliation of Malayalam Film Artists (AMMA) on Sunday following sexual assault allegations made by a feminine actor on August 24. In an announcement, Siddique confirmed he had submitted his resignation letter to AMMA President Mohanlal. “Sure. I’ve tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there have been allegations in opposition to me, I’ve determined to not proceed within the put up and resigned,” Siddique mentioned.

The feminine actor alleged Siddique sexually abused her after inviting her for a film dialogue. The allegations come amid elevated scrutiny within the Malayalam movie trade following the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread problems with harassment and exploitation within the trade.

A day in the past, Siddique, spoke in regards to the Hema Committee Report in the course of the media interplay and mentioned, “There was a excessive energy committee that was put collectively a decade in the past with representatives of all film-related associations within the state. We aren’t certain if that’s what has been talked about.”

There isn’t a such energy foyer. No foyer can management the cinema in any method. How can an trade perform if there is a group controlling all elements? If there was such an influence group, then there wouldn’t be good cinema. Ever for the reason that report got here out, there have been accusations generalising the complete Malayalam movie trade and its folks as dangerous, which is hurtful. Each job sector has points however no one comes up with remarks blemishing the complete sector,” he added.

ICYDK: The report strongly highlights the extreme discrimination and exploitation that feminine actors encounter inside the trade. From the prevalence of the casting sofa and the dearth of fundamental facilities on movie units to wage disparities and ostracism for refusing to adjust to the calls for of abusers, the report has laid naked the trade’s darker aspect. This three-member committee, led by former Kerala Excessive Court docket decide Ok Hema, with veteran actor T Sarada and retired IAS officer KB Valsalakumari as members, was shaped by the Kerala authorities in July 2017.

Final week, the Kerala Excessive Court docket allowed the discharge of the report, with the situation that names and delicate info be redacted to guard the identities of these concerned. Regardless of some makes an attempt to delay its launch, the 295-page report was made public on Monday. Nonetheless, 63 pages of the preliminary 295-page report have been redacted earlier than its launch below the RTI Act. It particulars the extent of the management exerted by the so-called “mafia,” which reportedly silences anybody who dares to lift a criticism, subjecting them to extreme repercussions.

On the work entrance, Siddique has appeared in over 300 Malayalam films. He has additionally starred in Tamil movies similar to Jana and Bhaskar Oru Rascal.