The first Malayalam film, "Balan," was released in 1938. However, it was the 1950s and 1960s that saw the emergence of Malayalam cinema as a major force in Indian cinema. Directors like G. R. Rao and P. A. Thomas made significant contributions to the industry during this period. The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of socially relevant films, known as "parallel cinema," which dealt with themes like poverty, inequality, and social injustice.