Malayalam cinema has had a significant impact on Indian cinema as a whole. The industry's focus on socially relevant themes and realistic storytelling has influenced filmmakers across India. Many Bollywood films have been inspired by Malayalam movies, with some even being remade.
Kerala’s culture is visual: the backwaters, the spice markets, the monsoons. But Mollywood avoids postcard beauty. The frames are cluttered, the houses are damp with monsoon moss, and the characters don’t wear designer clothes.