The physical and cultural geography of Kerala has always been a central character in Malayalam films, changing in tandem with the state's economic evolution.

After a brief creative lull in the 2000s, a new generation of filmmakers sparked a cinematic renaissance often termed the "New Generation" wave. Filmmakers like Lijo Jose Pellissery, Dileesh Pothan, Mahesh Narayanan, and modern writers like Syam Pushkaran stripped away remaining commercial formulas.

: Left-wing politics and trade unionism have been central themes in Malayalam cinema for decades, celebrating the working class and historical peasant revolts.