Today, Malayalam cinema is in a "Second Golden Age." Directors like , Mahesh Narayanan , and Chidambaram are telling stories that are deeply local yet universally human. The culture of the sarathi (auto-rickshaw driver), the kallu saap (toddy shop), the paddy field , and the Syrian Christian wedding are meticulously documented.
Early films focused on the breakdown of the feudal system and the rise of the working class. Cultural Identity and the "Gulf" Narrative Today, Malayalam cinema is in a "Second Golden Age