: Modern films have been praised for challenging traditional tropes. For instance, Kumbalangi Nights
If the 60s were about folklore, the 70s and 80s were about the rise of the Malayali middle class. This was the era of and G. Aravindan —arthouse giants who brought Kerala to the global festival circuit (Cannes, Venice, Berlin). But it was also the era of the commercial "middle-stream" cinema. : Modern films have been praised for challenging
This was a direct reflection of cultural change. The 1970s and 80s saw the breakdown of the feudal janmi (landlord) system. As joint families splintered and land reforms redistributed wealth, the Malayali identity shifted from "feudal servant" to "government employee." : Modern films have been praised for challenging