The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938, directed by S. Nottanandan. However, it was the 1950s and 1960s that saw the emergence of a distinct Malayalam film industry, with films like "Nirmala" (1948) and "Mullens" (1951). These early films were primarily social dramas, mythological tales, and literary adaptations.
(1938) was the first talkie, primarily produced by Tamil filmmakers. The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in