Kerala's rich cultural heritage has had a profound impact on Malayalam cinema. The state's unique traditions, such as:

In the 1990s and 2000s, Malayalam cinema saw a shift towards comedy and masala films. Movies like (1993) and "Lalettan's Bharathchandran I.P.S." (2005) became huge hits, thanks to their blend of humor, action, and drama.

Furthermore, the industry has its own dark side that reflects cultural patriarchy. For decades, women in the industry faced the same "casting couch" issues prevalent elsewhere. The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) was formed by actresses after an abduction incident, sparking a #MeToo movement in Kerala. This fight isn't just about cinema; it is about the deep-seated conservatism within a "liberal" label. The fact that a Remote (Digital) Media Collective exists and that actors like Parvathy Thiruvothu publicly criticize sexist dialogues shows that the cinema is once again evolving the culture, forcing it to confront its hypocrisy.