The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938. However, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that Malayalam cinema started to gain popularity. The industry grew rapidly, and by the 1970s and 1980s, it had become a significant part of Kerala's cultural landscape. Today, Malayalam cinema is known for its thought-provoking and socially relevant films that often explore the complexities of human relationships, politics, and social issues.
The 2013 film Amen by Lijo Jose Pellissery is a frenetic musical set in a Keralan village that treats the Latin Catholic mass, the local brass band, and Hindu temple rituals with equal doses of satire and reverence. The 2019 documentary Nazar explored the "theater of the Theyyam" (a ritualistic folk dance), blurring the line between divine possession and performance. mallu chechi affairzip better