The 1990s and 2000s saw the emergence of masala films, which combined action, comedy, romance, and drama. Movies like "Pudhu Vasantham" (1990) and "Gnanapazham" (1991) showcased romantic storylines with a twist, often featuring a mix of comedy, drama, and music. This era also introduced popular on-screen pairs, such as Rajinikanth and Sridevi, and Kamal Haasan and Madhuri Dixit, who became iconic in Tamil cinema.