: Certain locations have become iconic. The regal Varikkasery mana , a traditional 120-year-old mansion in Palakkad, has appeared in over 180 movies, truly earning its title as "Malayalam cinema's ancestral home". Similarly, the Chitranjali studio in Thiruvananthapuram has been the birthplace of countless films and television serials for decades.

Malayalam cinema began with J.C. Daniel’s silent film Vigathakumaran (1928) . While other Indian regions focused on mythological epics, Daniel chose a family drama, setting a precedent for "social cinema" that remains a hallmark of the industry.