[1][2][3][4][5] In August 2024, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) found itself at the center of a storm when the long-awaited Justice Hema Committee report[13] was finally released to the public, following a Kerala High Court order.

The committee, formed in 2017 in the aftermath of the shocking abduction and sexual assault of a prominent actress, was tasked with investigating the working conditions of women in the industry.

The report also highlighted that women producers and those in smaller roles were frequently at the mercy of the male-dominated power structure, facing discrimination and even being denied basic amenities like quality food on set unless they complied with demands.

When it was finally made public, key details, including the names of those accused, were redacted, which many saw as an attempt to protect influential figures in the industry.

The first response from AMMA came as a press meet on 25th August, with General Secretary Siddique, and executive members Jayan Cherthala, Jomol, and Ananya downplaying the allegations as isolated incidents.

As she narrated in gruesome detail how the popular actor had described his fetish over long fingers like hers, fantasized verbally about "licking her if not allowed to penetrate", even suggestively eating food in front of her, shocking the Malayali audience, Siddique was forced to resign from his position of General Secretary of AMMA overnight.

WCC protested through a series of social media interventions that AMMA should take a favorable stand towards the welfare of the female actors in Malayalam cinema.