Malayalam cinema experienced its own Golden Age in the 1980s and early 1990s . Acclaimed Malayalam filmmakers industry , included Adoor Gopalakrishnan , G. Aravindan , T. V. Chandran and Shaji N. Karun . Gopalakrishnan , is often considered to be Ray 's spiritual heir . He directed some of his most acclaimed films during this period , including '' Elippathayam '' ( 1981 ) which won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival . Karun 's debut film '' Piravi '' ( 1989 ) won the Camera d'Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival , while his second film '' Swaham '' ( 1994 ) was in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 1994 event . '' Vanaprastham '' was screened at the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival . Commercial Malayalam cinema began gaining popularity with the action films of Jayan , a popular stunt actor who died while filming a helicopter stunt
1989 Cannes Film Festival
1989 Cannes Film Festival
Cinema of India