The first Malayalam film, "Ballooru Swarga," was released in 1924, marking the beginning of Malayalam cinema. During the 1920s and 1930s, Malayalam films were largely mythological and devotional, reflecting the cultural and spiritual ethos of Kerala. The 1950s and 1960s saw the emergence of a new wave of filmmakers, including Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Kunchacko, and Ramu Kariat, who introduced a more realistic and socially conscious cinema.