The roots of Malayalam cinema are deeply intertwined with the social reform movements that swept through Kerala in the early 20th century. Unlike many other regional film industries in India that initially relied heavily on mythological extravaganzas, Malayalam cinema found its voice in realism and social critique.
: The industry places immense weight on scriptwriting and performances . It has a long tradition of literary realism, transitioning from classics like Chemmeen to modern interrogations of power and gender in films like The Great Indian Kitchen and Aattam . The roots of Malayalam cinema are deeply intertwined