The first Tamil film, "Keechaka Vadham," was released in 1918, marking the beginning of Tamil cinema. During the 1920s and 1930s, Tamil films were primarily mythological and devotional in nature, with films like "Pavitra Hridayam" (1933) and "Nirmala" (1938) gaining popularity. The 1950s saw the rise of social dramas and melodramas, with films like "Rangoon Radha" (1956) and "Mamiyar Meiyle" (1959).