The Malayalam cinema is endowed with some of the classic films in the history of Indian cinema.

Ramu Kariat: Acclaimed as an innovator of Malayalam cinema of the 1950s to the 70s, Ramu Kariat is one of the protagonists of neo realism. After Neelakuyil in 1954 he shot Minnaminungu in 1957. The latter was a pathbreaking film of the Malayalam arthouse cinema. He could effortlessly handle both melodramas and films dealing with serious social films. Hs filmography includes Mudiyanaya Putram (1961), Moodupadam (1963), Chemmeen (1965), Ezhu Ratrikal (1968) and others. He is also considered as a "ferryman" between arthouse and entertainment cinema.

P Bhaskaran: The former associate of Kariat ahs made some memorable films, Rarichan Enna Pauran (1956). In 1967 he made Anveshichu Kandethiyilla with two great Malayalam actors, Sathayn and Adoor Bhasi. The same year he also made Irunite Atmavu. The film starred Prem Nazir. With the same actor he made Thurakatha Vathil in 1970.

The later period saw some outstanding Malayalam directors whose works enriched the Malayalam film industry. One such director is John Abraham. He is a graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He was one of the most profound and original representatives of the Malayalam art cinema. His best known work in India was made in Tamil at madras, Agraharathil Kazhuthai, 1977. Besides this he has also made Vidyathikale Ithile (1971), Cheriyachente Kroora Krithyangal and others. The most perfect of all his films is Amma Ariyan (1986). The film is in a form of an open letter from a son to his mother. Other art film makers in Malayalam are PA Backer, PN Menon and others.

Sethumadhavan is another name to remember in Malayalam cinema. Odeyil Ninnu (1965) is a social film. It features Sathyan, Prem Nazir and Adoor Bhasi. In 1969 he came up with Kadalppalam and in 1971 it was Oru Penninte Katha. In the latter he portrays both a picture of the decadence of the feudalism and the relentless pursuit of revenge by a woman abandoned by her lover. His 1980 film Oppol is a powerful illustration on Oedipus complex.

Starting with Sethumadhavan the Malayalam films slowly tilted towards the commercial vein. BG Bharathan made Rathi Nirvedham in 1978. In 1982 he directed two powerful films: Marmaarm and Ormakayi. The following year Kattathe Kilokkoodu was released. In 1989 he made Thazhvaram with one of the greatest contemporary male stars, Mohanlal, is a fine story of love and revenge.

IV Sasi is another Malayalam director whose trendy work has contributed to the expansion in India and Kerala motion picture industry in the 1970s. Sasi is a specialist of complicated and exotic melodramas, like America, America (1983). Amongst his films the notable ones are Ee Nadu (1982), Kana Marayathu (1983), Avanazhi and Vartha (1986).

The young Priyadarshan, a director of successful musical films since the 1980s, shooting in general with actor Mohanlal, is among others the author of Thalavattam (1986) and of Chitram (1988). This Malayalam director has directed over 25 feature films in a career span of about 10 years. His films are resolutely in a commercial vein but on themes that are rather humanistic and relatively unusual in this type of cinema and helped by a remarkable direction of the actors. Of late he has been engaged in making films in the comic genre. He is also credited with making Tamil films and Bollywood flicks. Some of his early films are Parampara, Bharatham, Kanakkinavu and others.

Amongst the new generation of Malayalam Directors is KG George. His most important film is Swapnatanam (1975), a well constructed conjugal psychodrama composed of a series of flashbacks tracing the origins of the insanity of the hero. The film met with commercial success. Next, Mannu (1978) is a feudal melodrama. His 1980 film, Kolangal, has as its theme the imaginary fault of a young, pretty and poor village girl. Two years later he directed a thriller, Yavanika. His 1983 film, Lekhayude Maranam- Oru Flashback is a powerful and sensitive film about the illusory world of cinema. His other films include Adaminte Variyellu, Panchavadippalam and Irakal.

Another name that cannot be missed in the list of Malayalam directors is VK Pavithran. He has directed Yaro Oral, an experimental melodrama with the music by the great G Aravindam. In 1986 with Uppu, he brought powerful evidence against the rigid legal approach to the personal code of Indian Muslims.

The other notable director from FTII is KR Mohanan, first and foremost a director of documentaries and short films. His works are Ashwathama, Prushartham and finally Swaroopam. Other directors of this genre are T Hariharan, Balachander Menon and CP Padmakumar.

Lenin Rajendran is a gifted and cultivated filmmaker. He has a strong communist bent of mind. Meenasmasathile Sooryam (1985) is a political and romantic film, credible and poignant, with the great Gopi, about freedom fighter activists belonging to the Left in the 1940s at the time of the Quit India movement. His more ambitious project is Deivathinte Vikruthikal (1990).

Aravindan has directed 11 feature films that are remarkable and deal with the culture and heritage of India. Another stalwart in the field of film direction in Malayalam is Adoor Gopalakrishnan. According to him cinema "is an exercise in the exploration of creativity, of experience, of memory, and of narration." Another prodigy of Indian cinema is Shaji. He is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. His first film was Piravi in 1988.

The contemporary Malayalam filmmakers are Sreenivasan. He is famous for his satirical black comedies.his filmography will include films, such as, Nadodikkattu, Sandesham, Vellanakaludey Naadu and Varavelpu. He directed two notable Malayalam films are Vadakku Nooki Yanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. He has also received a number of awards in lieu of his work:

Kerala State Film Award Jury`s Special mention for the brilliant performance in Thakarachenda (2006)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film: Vadakku Nooki Yanthram (1989)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film: Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay: Mazhayethum Munpe (1995)
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story: Sandhesam (1991)

Other contemporary Malayalam directors are Dinesh Baboo, Fazil, AK Lohithadas, Blessy, etc.