Malayalam is known as the hardest language in India for its diglossia (spoken vs. written vastly differ). Cinema uses a raw, regional slang. A fisherman from Alleppey speaks differently than a Christian from Kottayam , who speaks differently than a Muslim from Malappuram . Films preserve these dying dialects.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Malayalam cinema witnessed a significant shift with the emergence of new wave cinema. Filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, P. Padmarajan, and John Abraham experimented with new themes and narratives, pushing the boundaries of traditional cinema. This movement led to the creation of some of the most critically acclaimed films in Malayalam cinema, like Swayamvaram (1972), Udyanapalakan (1987), and Amaram (1979). Malayalam is known as the hardest language in