The 1970s and 1980s saw the emergence of masala films, which combined action, comedy, and romance. This period was marked by the stardom of actors like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Vijay. The 1990s and 2000s witnessed the rise of new wave cinema, with films like "Papanasam" (1992) and "Moondram Pirai" (2002).