No discussion of culture is complete without music. Unlike Hindi film songs that are often picturized in Swiss Alps, Malayalam film songs are geocentric. The music of (Sushin Shyam) uses ambient sounds of rain and boat engines. Aedan (2017) incorporates Margamkali (a Christian folk art form) into its score. The percussion of Chenda melam (temple drumming) is a recurring motif in action sequences, grounding the violence in local ritual.
: Movies that find universal meaning in specific Kerala villages or urban neighborhoods. No discussion of culture is complete without music
The unique identity of Malayalam cinema is heavily influenced by Kerala’s high literacy rate and vibrant intellectual landscape. Aedan (2017) incorporates Margamkali (a Christian folk art
However, the relationship is not always healthy. In recent years, "Kerala culture" has been commodified by mainstream commercial cinema. "Mass" films featuring superstars like Mammootty and Mohanlal often resort to "Naadan" (rustic) stereotypes—feasting on beef fry and Kallu (toddy) to signal authenticity, while ignoring the cosmopolitan, tech-savvy reality of modern Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram. The unique identity of Malayalam cinema is heavily
(2021) follows three police officers (from dominant castes) on the run after being falsely accused of custodial torture of a Dalit youth. It masterfully shows how the state machinery protects upper-caste power. Parava (2017) and Biriyani (2020) show the persistence of caste in Muslim and Christian communities—a taboo subject earlier reserved for academic papers.
Over the years, Malayalam cinema has evolved significantly, reflecting the changing social, cultural, and economic landscape of Kerala. The 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of a new wave of filmmakers who experimented with innovative storytelling, cinematography, and music. This period produced iconic films like Chemmeen (1965), Kadal (1969), and Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu (1970), which are still widely acclaimed.