The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938, marking the beginning of a new era in Kerala's cultural landscape. The early days of Malayalam cinema were marked by social dramas and mythological films, which were heavily influenced by traditional Kerala art forms like Kathakali and Koothu. As the industry grew, filmmakers began to experiment with new themes and genres, reflecting the changing social and cultural dynamics of Kerala.

Perhaps the most defining feature of Malayalam cinema is its obsession with the ordinary. While Tamil and Telugu cinema often lean on hyperbolic heroism, the classic Malayalam hero—think Bharat Gopy or Mammootty in his prime—is often a man defeated by his own circumstances.

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In the early 2010s, a "new generation movement" emerged, revitalizing the industry after a period of commercial stagnation.

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Malayalam cinema isn’t just an industry—it’s a mirror to the backwaters, monsoon rhythms, and quiet rebellions of Kerala.

Similarly, the Onam Sadhya (the grand vegetarian feast on banana leaf) is a cinematic trope used to signal family unity, wealth, or the lack thereof. In Nadodikattu , the absence of food in Chennai highlights the protagonists’ desperation; in Ustad Hotel , the biryani becomes a metaphor for communal harmony (the mixing of spices representing the mixing of Hindu-Muslim cultures).