Mammootty, Manju Warrier, Prithviraj among top-tier actors who missed AMMA elections this year

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) witnessed a historic moment as Shwetha Menon was elected president of the 31-year-old actors’ body. The election saw a voter turnout of 298 members from the over 500-strong association, with many casting their ballots in support of various panelists.

While the polls drew a fair number of younger members, several prominent industry figures were notably absent. Leading stars such as Mammootty, Prithviraj, Asif Ali, Jayaram, Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Kunchacko Boban, Dulquer Salmaan, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Soubin Shahir did not cast their votes. Veterans Urvashi and Manju Warrier were also among those who missed the election.

Joy Mathew, who was elected to the executive committee, expressed disappointment at the lack of participation from top-tier actors. “Prominent members should not have stayed away. Voting is a basic responsibility of every member. Some seem to think their only duty is to offer financial support, but that’s not enough. These same members turn to the leadership in times of crisis. They can't remain passive — both their support and criticism are vital for the association’s health,” he said.

A source close to the association noted that some absentee members historically never vote. “Only a handful, like Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas — despite their busy schedules — made the effort to show up. Even Mohanlal, despite his packed calendar, came to fulfill his responsibility. Others should take a cue from him,” the source added.

Actor Tini Tom offered a more optimistic view, saying organisers had expected a much lower turnout. “We were actually prepared for fewer voters. So, having nearly 300 members cast their vote is heartening,” he said.