Kerala has elected communist governments alternately since 1957. This left-liberal public sphere has:

Women directors like Aparna Sen (though Bengali), but in Malayalam: Jeo Baby ( The Great Indian Kitchen ), Christo Tomy ( Kuruthi – co-writer), and many emerging short filmmakers.

In the films of the past, the village was often a utopian space. In modern cinema, such as in Sudani from Nigeria or Nayattu , the landscape is used to highlight isolation, the struggles of the migrant worker, or the displacement caused by urbanization. The cinema documents the changing face of Kerala—from the agrarian past to the Gulf-money-fueled modernity of the present.

It is a cinema that respects the intelligence of its audience, validating the culture’s pride in education and critical thinking. Ultimately, Malayalam cinema is the heartbeat of Kerala—a pulse that fluctuates with the monsoon, races with political debate, and beats steadily with the resilience of the

The journey of Malayalam cinema began on March 29, 1912, with the release of the first Malayalam film, , directed by J.D. Thottan. This silent film marked the beginning of a new era in Keralan entertainment, which would eventually become an integral part of the state's cultural identity. During the early years, Malayalam cinema was heavily influenced by the cultural and social milieu of Kerala, which was characterized by a strong tradition of literature, music, and art.