Historically, Malayalam cinema had a significant phase in the 80s and 90s known for . These were low-budget productions often featuring bold themes and were distinct from the mainstream industry known as Mollywood .
. Often referred to as "softcore" or "bit films" (due to "bits" of extra footage added after censorship), these movies played a critical role in keeping many small-town theatres afloat during a period of financial crisis for mainstream cinema. Iconic Actresses of the Genre
If you are a covering independent cinema, you have a responsibility to educate your audience. General audiences used to Marvel will call a slow-burn character study "boring." Your job is to reframe their expectations.