The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938, marking the beginning of the industry. However, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that Malayalam cinema started to gain momentum. Filmmakers like G. R. Rao and P. A. Thomas made significant contributions to the industry during this period. The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan and A. K. Gopan, who brought a new wave of storytelling and cinematic techniques to Malayalam cinema.