Mainstream WeeklyAbstract
The emergence of women in leadership roles within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) represents a potentially promising development. However, the extent to which this shift contributes to addressing the broader gender paradox in Kerala remains contingent upon whether these changes are merely symbolic or reflect substantive structural transformation. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the recent AMMA elections and the rise of women leaders within the traditionally male-dominated Malayalam film industry. The discussion is framed through the theoretical lenses of the glass ceiling, glass cliff, feminist organizational structures, and the dynamics of soft power.
Keywords: AMMA, Elections, Gender Paradox, Women Empowerment, Film Industry, Women in Cinema Collective, Glass Ceiling Effect, Glass Cliff Effect, Transformative Citizenship, Kerala
__0__
Introduction
In a landmark development, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) elected women to the key leadership positions of President and General Secretary for the first time in its thirty-one-year history, on August 15, 2025. This election occurred in the wake of a significant leadership vacuum created by the collective resignation of AMMA