The history of Malayalam cinema dates back to the 1920s, when the first film, , was released in 1930. However, it was not until the 1950s that Malayalam cinema began to gain momentum, with films like Nirmala (1938) and Maya (1945). These early films were largely influenced by Indian mythology and folklore, setting the tone for the industry's future growth. The 1950s and 1960s saw the emergence of iconic filmmakers like G. R. Rao and P. A. Thomas, who made significant contributions to the development of Malayalam cinema.
Visually, Malayalam cinema has always resisted the gloss of "glamour." Its heroes wear mundus (white dhotis) with the same ease as they wear shirts. The lungi —that most democratic of garments, worn by the rickshaw puller and the high court judge alike—has had more screen time here than any designer suit. indian mallu xxx rape patched