In a historic turn of events, Shwetha Menon has been elected as the first female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). This landmark victory signals a new chapter for the organization, marking the first time a woman has held the top post. Adding to this monumental moment, Cuckoo Parameshwaran secured a significant win as the General Secretary. This is also the first time that two women will be leading AMMA.

Shwetha Menon's election as president followed a tense and closely watched contest against actor Devan. Her win is particularly noteworthy given that it comes almost a year after the Mohanlal-led committee resigned in August 2024, following the release of the Hema Committee report, which brought to light critical issues such as sexual allegations and pay disparity within the Malayalam film industry.

Kukku Parameshwaran's victory was also hard-won, as she faced off against veteran actor Raveendran for the General Secretary position. With both the president and general secretary positions now held by women, AMMA is poised for a significant shift in its leadership and direction. Lakshmi Priya has been chosen as the Vice President, while Ansiba Hasan won the Joint Secretary post.

The elections have generated considerable buzz within the industry. The atmosphere outside the polling station was electric. The possibility of a woman president had been a major talking point leading up to the vote.

The new leadership will inherit several significant challenges, including unresolved issues with the Income Tax Department. There was a gag order issued, preventing members from speaking to the media about internal matters until after the election. This followed a public disagreement between actresses Ponnamma Babu and Mala Parvathy regarding the association's finances.

The election was preceded by some turmoil, including a stayed obscenity case against Shwetha Menon. Cuckoo Parameswaran had also alleged cyberattacks and that her name was being dragged into the "memory card" controversy.

Several members of the industry voiced their support for Shwetha Menon. Actor Jagadish, who was also in the running for president, stepped aside to support Shwetha Menon's candidacy. Actor Rahman expressed his support for Shwetha, saying that he had no doubt that she would make an excellent president.

The election of Shwetha Menon and Cuckoo Parameshwaran marks a defining moment for AMMA and a potential turning point for women's representation in Malayalam cinema's most influential body.