AMMA Vice President Jayan Cherthala confirmed the news, stating that Siddique could not continue in his post amid the serious allegations against him

Senior Malayalam actor Siddique resigned as the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) on Sunday, just a day after a prominent fellow actress accused him of rape. AMMA Vice President Jayan Cherthala confirmed the resignation, stating that Siddique could not continue in his role amid such serious allegations.

Meanwhile, the actress who accused Siddique expressed her readiness to pursue legal action, provided the government assures her protection. She also criticized Siddique’s resignation, calling it a mere attempt to garner public sympathy, and demanded his banishment from the film industry, accusing him of exploiting and trampling over the dreams of many aspiring professionals.

Additionally, she claimed that another industry professional approached her for sexual favors, further highlighting the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. These allegations coincide with the recent release of the Hema Committee report, which exposes widespread sexual abuse and harassment within the industry, including the prevalence of the casting couch, vulgar comments, and misconduct by male co-actors.

The scandal comes just days after Bengali actress Sreelekha accused renowned Malayalam director Ranjith of misbehaving with her in 2009, adding to the growing scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.

Senior Malayalam actor Siddique resigned is a significant first step, but the film industry must now confront its darker side and take concrete action to create a safer, more equitable environment. This means holding perpetrators accountable, supporting survivors, and ensuring such abuses are no longer tolerated. The industry’s response to these allegations will be a crucial test of its commitment to real change, with the public closely watching.