AMMA to support directors

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has finally extended its official support to all those directors who resigned from the Federation of Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA). Superstar Mohanlal, general secretary of AMMA, said that he never had any talks with MACTA or Vinayan and would support all those directors who had come out of the federation.

''AMMA will never support any one or any organisation which always tried to call bans and prevent film-makers from producing cinema in this crisis-plagued film industry.This is one organization which even created a lot of problems to films like Calcutta news which was shooting in difficult conditions among floods in Calcutta.We are supporting the directors who have come out of MACTA and the producers' association who has announced its wholesome support to these directors," Mohanlal revealed.

Meanwhile, MACTA has lashed out at superstar Mohanlal for the first time, asking him to mind his own business and not to meddle in the affairs of the union. "Who is he to say that we don"t have any affiliation? He is the general secretary of AMMA; let him concentrate on issues in AMMA. He may be a superstar in films; it is best that he keeps that to films," MACTA general secretary Vinayan told reporters here on Sunday. Mohanlal has earlier said that the union does not have affiliation with any national organisation.

It is believed that Vinayan"s statement against Mohanlal irked AMMA, which later extended its full support to the faction opposed to Vinayan, including veteran directors like Siddique, Sathyan Anthikad, Renjith, Fazil and Sibi Malayil, who are expected to announce the formation of a new organization on Monday.