The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian cinema. The early years of Malayalam cinema were marked by the dominance of mythological and social dramas, which were heavily influenced by the cultural and social fabric of Kerala. The 1950s and 1960s saw the rise of the "social reform" genre, which focused on social issues like casteism, feudalism, and women's rights.
