The journey of Malayalam cinema began on March 29, 1912, with the release of the first Malayalam film, , directed by M.S. Baburaj. However, it was not until the 1920s that the industry started to gain momentum. The first talkie, Marthanda Varma , was released in 1938, marking a significant milestone in the history of Malayalam cinema. This period saw the emergence of pioneers like P. Subramaniam, who is often referred to as the "father of Malayalam cinema."