Tamil cinema began in the 1930s with the production of the first Tamil talkie, "Keechaka Vadham," directed by A. N. R. Raghavan. The early years of Tamil cinema saw the rise of mythological and historical films, which were often based on Hindu epics and Tamil classics. The 1950s and 1960s are often referred to as the "Golden Age" of Tamil cinema, with films like "Rangoli" (1956), "Mamiyar" (1959), and "Padavettu" (1961) becoming huge hits.