Ullal cinema, also known as Ullal film industry or Sandalwood, has its roots in the 1920s. The first Kannada film, "Reshma," was released in 1926. Over the years, the industry has grown significantly, with notable filmmakers like Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry, Puttanna Kanagal, and T.S. Nagabharana contributing to its success.