Malayalam cinema is known for its:

, in 1928. Defying the national trend of making mythological epics, Daniel chose a social theme, though the film faced backlash for casting

, the "Father of Malayalam Cinema," produced the first feature film, Vigathakumaran

Starting around 2011 with Traffic , and exploding with films like Drishyam (2013), Bangalore Days (2014), and Premam (2015), Malayalam cinema underwent a tectonic shift. The "New Wave" (or post-modern) cinema rejected the "mass hero" format popular in neighboring industries.

Balan (1938) was the first sound film, while Neelakuyil (1954) was the first to gain national recognition for representing authentic Kerala life .

Reflecting and Refracting the Collective: Malayalam Cinema as a Cultural Archive of Kerala