AMMA elections memory card row explained: Why Usha Haseena, Cuckoo Parameswaran crossed swords?
The 'memory card' row is yet another dramatic flashpoint in the run-up to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A) elections, which is scheduled to take place on August 15. After actress and dubbing artist Cuckoo Parameswaran filed a complaint against fellow Malayalam artists Usha Haseena and Ponnamma Babu to the DGP, Usha reached out to the Kerala Chief Minister, the Women's Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the DGP, demanding that the memory card be returned to them.
Why the 'memory card' matters?
According to Malayalam media reports, after 'Me Too' allegations started to emerge, the female members of A.M.M.A. held a meeting in 2018 to internally confess and discuss the issues they were facing. Their experiences were recorded on a memory card during the meeting in video format.
According to Usha, it was Cuckoo Parameswaran who handled the memory card afterwards, and she questioned why such a solid piece of evidence was not presented before the Hema Committee. The memory card was even handled by Edavela Babu, a former A.M.M.A. strongman who has since been tainted by rape charges.
In September 2024, Babu was arrested and released on bail after being booked under IPC sections 354 (sexual assault), 376 (rape), and 509 (acts, words, or gestures that intend to insult a woman's modesty) over a complaint filed by a Kochi-based actress who said the incident occurred at his flat in Kaloor, where she had gone to fill out a form for A.M.M.A membership.
What is Cuckoo Parameswaran's side of the story?
Meanwhile, Cuckoo maintains that nobody ever approached her asking for the memory card so far, and she is uncertain why it has become an issue now. "I was here all these years after the memory card was used in 2018. Nobody had any complaints about me all these years. If they had any concerns, they could have complained and received my answer... neither did they demand it nor file a complaint," she had reportedly told Mathrubhumi.com.
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Cuckoo further claimed that the contents of the memory card did not belong to her but to A.M.M.A., before concluding that she would not comment further on the controversy until the election results were out, but would explain everything afterwards.
What happened now?
Usha came forward with a counter-statement and petition after Cuckoo filed a complaint against her and senior actress Ponnamma Babu with the DGP, accusing them of defaming her on social media.
Usha, best known for her roles in Kireedam and Chenkol, said this forced them to come forward with a counter-complaint due to Cuckoo's recent actions. The memory card contains visuals of many artists making statements. Cuckoo is in possession of it and should to return it. The petition they submitted was signed by every female artist whose revelations were recorded on the said memory card, Manorama Online quoted Usha as saying.
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They were ready to wait until the elections were over before making any decisions, but they were forced to act after Cuckoo accused them of lying on television channels. They do not have any issues with Cuckoo running in the elections, but it is for the A.M.M.A. members to elect worthy and deserving office bearers.
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