If you're new to Malayalam cinema, here are some films to get you started:

: Early masterpieces were often direct adaptations of iconic Malayalam novels. Directors drew inspiration from legendary writers like Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, and M.T. Vasudevan Nair.

Meera realized: Kerala’s cyclical rhythms—monsoons, harvests, boat races—had taught Malayalam cinema to value .