The first Kannada film, "Srigandha" (1935), marked the beginning of Kannada cinema. The early years saw the rise of mythological and historical films, with movies like "Bhargava Ramudu" (1940) and "Vikramaditya" (1943). The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the emergence of social dramas and comedies, with films like "Ranga Tangana" (1953) and "Ambarisha" (1964).