Malayalam cinema began in the 1920s, with the first film, Balan , released in 1930. Over the years, the industry has grown significantly, producing some remarkable films that have gained national and international recognition. The 1960s and 1970s are often referred to as the golden era of Malayalam cinema, with filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, K. S. Sethumadhavan, and P. A. Thomas creating some iconic films.