The first Tamil film, "Keechaka Vadham," was released in 1918, marking the beginning of Tamil cinema. During the 1920s and 1930s, Tamil films were primarily mythological and devotional dramas, with films like "Bhishma Pratigna" (1922) and "Seeta Kalyanam" (1934) gaining popularity. The 1940s and 1950s saw the rise of social dramas, with films like "Rajeswari" (1947) and "Malaikkallan" (1954) addressing social issues like poverty, inequality, and corruption.