The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938, marking the beginning of Malayalam cinema. The early years saw a mix of mythological and social dramas, with films like "Nirmala" (1938) and "Savitri" (1940). The 1950s and 1960s are often referred to as the "Golden Age" of Malayalam cinema, with filmmakers like G. R. Rao, Kunchacko, and P. A. Thomas producing iconic films like "Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu" (1962) and "Chemmeen" (1965).