The 1980s and 1990s are often referred to as the Golden Age of Malayalam cinema. Directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, A. K. Gopan, and K. S. Sethumadhavan made films that gained international recognition and critical acclaim. Movies like "Swayamvaram" (1972), "Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu" (1984), and "Perumazhayathirunnottu" (1985) are considered some of the best films in Malayalam cinema.