Kerala is India’s most politically conscious state, famous for its high- decibel democracy and alternating communist and congress governments. Unsurprisingly, Malayalam cinema is the most overtly political regional cinema in India.
Malayalam cinema’s musical culture is distinct from the "item number" phenomenon of other industries. While songs exist for commercial reasons, the industry has a rich history of ganam (poetic songs) that function as narrative soliloquies. Lyricists like Vayalar Ramavarma and O.N.V. Kurup were literary giants first, film lyricists second. Kerala is India’s most politically conscious state, famous
If you want to "read" Kerala through its cinema, start here: Kerala is India’s most politically conscious state, famous