The colonial legacy of tea and rubber plantations in Idukki and Wayanad has provided a fertile ground for narratives about class struggle and migration. Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu (2019) transposes a primal, chaotic energy into the hilly terrain of a Kerala village, using the geography to strip away modern civility and reveal the beast within. Meanwhile, films about the Pravasi (expatriate) Malayalis often use the stark contrast between the hyper-realistic Kerala village (with its narrow lanes, chayakadas (tea shops), and thatched roofs) and the glittering, soulless Gulf cities to highlight the psychological cost of migration.
Kerala's high literacy rate and vibrant intellectual culture fostered a unique film society movement in the 1960s and 70s. This movement introduced local audiences to global cinematic masterpieces, encouraging a shift toward artistic, "parallel" cinema.