Films like Salt N’ Pepper revolutionized the genre by making food the language of romance. Unda uses the thattukada (roadside eatery) chaya (tea) and porotta to ground a tense police thriller in local reality. Aanum Pennum uses the preparation of food to delineate power dynamics within a patriarchal household.

Unlike globalized cinema that celebrates Christmas or New Year's, Malayalam cinema is rooted in the state's secular and diverse festival calendar.

Kerala culture has had a significant influence on Malayalam cinema. Many films have:

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