The first Tamil film, "Keechaka Vadham," was released in 1918, marking the beginning of Tamil cinema. During the silent era, Tamil films were primarily mythological and historical dramas. With the advent of sound in the 1930s, Tamil cinema began to flourish, and films like "Ardeshir Irani's Alam Ara" (1936) and "M. G. R.'s Moondram Pirai" (1952) became instant hits.