Notable malayalam cenema through its 80-year-long history.

YEAR	FILM	DIRECTOR	MAJOR CAST	NOTE(S)
1928	Vigathakumaran	J. C. Daniel	J. C. Daniel, Rosy	First Malayalam film. The first Indian film, Raja Harishchandra, was produced in 1912.
1933	Marthanda Varma	P.V. Rao	Jaidev, Devaki, Padmini	Second and last silent film. First historical drama film and novel to film adaptation.
1938	Balan	S. Nottani	Kamalan, Laxmikutty	First sound film (talkie)
1948	Nirmala	P. J. Cherian	Joseph Cherian, Baby Joseph	First film produced by a Malayali. Also the first film with songs. Lyrics were by G. Shankara Kurup.
1951	Jeevitha Nauka	K. Vembu	Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair	First superhit. Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair became the first Malayalam superstar.
1954	Neelakkuyil	Ramu Karyat,P. Bhaskaran T. R. Sundaram	Sathyan, Miss _Kumari	Considered the first mature film in Malayalam. The film excelled in direction, screenplay, actin g and music.
1955	Newspaper Boy	P. Ramadas	Master Moni	Considered India's first neorealistic film
1961	Kandam Bacha Coat	T. R. Sundaram	Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Prem Nawaz, Ambika	First colour film
1964	Bhargavi Nilayam	A. Vincent	Prem Nazir, Madhu, Vijaya Nirmala, P.J. Antony	First horror film. Story and screenplay were by Vaikom Muhammed Bashir
1965	Chemmeen	Ramu Karyat	Madhu, Sathy an, Kottarakk ara Sreedharan Nair, Sheela	First film to participate in an international film festival]]. First South Indian film to win the National Film Award for Best Film
1965	Murappennu	A. Vincent	Prem Nazir, P.J. Antony, Adoo r Bhasi, Sharad a	First film to shoot extensively outdoors. It was the first film venture of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair
1966	Iruttinte Athmavu	P. Bhaskaran	Prem Nazir, Santha Devi	Noted for being the first serious attempt at sensitive storytelling. Considered to be the masterpiece work of P. Bhaskaranand Prem Nazir
1967	Chithramela	T .S. Muthiah	Prem Nazir, Sharad a, Sheela, K. P. Ummer	Noted for being the first anthology film
1967	Karutha Rathrikal	Mahesh	Madhu, Gemin i Ganesan, S. P. Pillai	Noted for being the first science fiction film
1972	Swayamvaram	Adoor Gopalakrishnan	Madhu, Thikk urissy Sukumaran Nair, Sharada	Pinoeered "new-wave cinema movement" in India. It was the director's debut film and it was also the first Malayalam film to win the National Film Award for Best Directing
1974	Kanchana Sita	G. Aravindan	Rama Chenchu triba l people	Pinoeered independent filmmaking in South India
1975	Prayanam	Bharathan	Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair	Considered the starting point of middle-stream cinema, a mix of serious themes and mass appeal. It was the debut ofdirector Bharathan and scre enwriter Padmarajan
1978	Avalude Ravukal	I.V. Sasi	Soman, Suku maran, Seema	One of the bolder movies of Kerala cinema, this I. V. Sasi experimental film highlighted a theme (teenage maran, Seema prostitution) which most mainstream directors were reluctant to tackle
1978	Thacholi Ambu	Appachan	Prem Nazir, Jayan	South India's first CinemaScope film
1982	Padayottam	Jijo Punnoose	Prem Nazir, Madhu, Jijo Punnoose Mammootty, L akshmi	India's first indigenously produced 70 mm film
1984	My Dear Kuttichathan	Jijo Punnoose	Arvind, Sonia	India's first 3-D film and the first film in Malayalam recorded with DTS sound in the second version released in 1997
1986	Amma Ariyan	John Abraham	Joy Mathew	Considered as one of the most complex Malayalam cinema. This is the first time in the history of Indian cinema, that a film was made entirely on the basis of public funds
1987	Piravi	Shaji N Karun	Premji	This film received more international awards than any other film in the history of Malayalam cinema. It participated over 72 International film festivals abroad India
1988	Adipapam	P. Chandrakuma r Rajiv Anchal Joy Mathew	Abhilasha	This was the first superhit theatrical softpo rn film and it inspired a series of similar productions in the next few years
1989	Mathilukal	Adoor Gopalakrishnan	Mammootty	This film has been screened at more international film festivals (76) than any other Malayalam film
1997	Guru	Rajiv Anchal	Mohanlal, Sur esh Gopi	Movie was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film category for the year 1997, making it the first Malayalam film to be chosen for the same
1998	Harikrishnans	Fazil	Mammootty, Mohanlal, Juh i Chawla	First Indian film to have multiple climaxes
2000	Kinnara Thumbikal	R. J. Prasad	Shakeela	This superhit low-budget theatrical softporn film inspired a series of similar productions in the next few years
2001	The Guard	Hakkim Rawther	Kalabhavan Mani	The world's first film with a single actor in the star cast
2006	Moonnamathoral	V. K. Prakash	Jayaram, Sam vrutha Sunil,Jyothir mayi, Sherin, Vineeth	The first Indian film to be shot and distributed in digital format
2008	Twenty:20	Joshy	Mammootty, Mohanlal, Sur esh Gopi, Dileep, Jayaram	First film to feature almost all the stars in the Malayalam film industry. The film was produced to raise funds for theAssociation of Malayalam Movie Artists
2009	Pazhassi Raja	Hariharan	Mammootty, S arath Kumar,Manoj K. Jayan, Kanika, Padmapriya	The most expensive Malayalam film, with a reported budget of 27 crores. It was also the first Malayalam film to get ahome video release in Blu- ray format
2009	Paleri Manikyam	Ranjith	Mammootty, S rinivasan, Sh weta Menon, Mythil i, Siddique	The film was praised to be one of the most technically excellent films produced in South Indian film industry during recent times.With bunch of other new comers, Ranjith brought back glimpses of golden era into malayalam film industry