Malayalam cinema serves as a "mirror and moulder" of Kerala's social realities.
All Malayalam actors look like "common men." Fact: While character actors are prized, stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal have massive charisma. The emphasis is on acting ability, not just looks.
Malayalam cinema began in 1928 with J.C. Daniel's silent film Vigathakumaran , which pioneered social themes in an era dominated by mythological epics.
Malayalam cinema refuses to be a drug that numbs reality; it is a mirror that reflects it, warts and all. It is the rare space where the high-brow and the low-brow meet—where a Kathakali dancer's story can be a blockbuster and a satire on a housewife's chore list can be a national treasure.