, the "father of Malayalam cinema," who produced the first silent film, Vigathakumaran , in 1928. Since then, the industry has evolved through several distinct phases: : Great writers like M. T. Vasudevan Nair , P. Padmarajan A. K. Lohithadas
The 1970s and 1980s marked a golden era, characterized by the rise of "Middle Cinema"—a genre that successfully merged the artistic sensibilities of parallel cinema with the accessibility of commercial films. Visionary directors like Aravindan, John Abraham, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan gained international recognition for their avant-garde storytelling.
The 1990s saw a shift toward mass entertainers, slapstick comedies, and family dramas. Despite commercial leanings, films continued to reflect Keralite humor, political satire, and the nuances of everyday domestic life—a hallmark of writers like Sreenivasan.
The "Gulf Boom" of the 1970s saw millions of Keralites migrate to the Middle East. Cinema quickly captured the psychological toll of this economic shift. Films like Varavelpu and Pathemari highlighted the loneliness of migrants, the burdens of remittance wealth, and the bittersweet reality of returning home. Political Satire