Malayalam films are unique because they prioritize "rootedness." Unlike the larger-than-life spectacles of Bollywood, Kerala's cinema finds beauty in the mundane.
Some notable Malayalam film festivals:
Neelakuyil (1954) was the first major breakthrough, winning the President's silver medal and addressing social issues like untouchability.
Many classics are adaptations of works by legendary authors like Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and M.T. Vasudevan Nair.