In the 2010s, a new generation of filmmakers, writers, and actors triggered a "New Wave" in Malayalam cinema. Filmmakers like Lijo Jose Pellissery, Dileesh Pothan, Mahesh Narayanan, and modern writers broke away from conventional star-centric narratives to focus on hyper-local stories with universal appeal.
The demographics of Kerala—comprising significant Hindu, Muslim, and Christian populations—are naturally reflected in its cinema. Stories seamlessly weave through the cultural nuances of the Malabar Muslims, the central Kerala Christians, and the Travancore Hindus without resorting to tokenism. In the 2010s, a new generation of filmmakers,
Profiles of (Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Lijo Jose Pellissery) Stories seamlessly weave through the cultural nuances of
Malayalam literature has had a significant influence on the state's cinema. Many films are adaptations of literary works, including novels, short stories, and plays. , Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai , and O. V. Vijayan are some of the notable writers whose works have been adapted into films. The literary influence can be seen in the complex storylines, nuanced characters, and social commentary that are characteristic of Malayalam cinema. , Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai , and O