Inspired from an imported film - Life of Christ - Phalke started mentally visualising the images of Indian gods and goddesses. It is notable that none of the Malayalam films that came before the independence of India reflected the mood of the struggle for independence and also the film that came after independence and the early s reflected that torrid period of Kerala, where the Communist upspring was taking place changing the entire social climate of the State. After Prahlada, Kerala had to wait till for the next film. Stories from the mythology were told so, with accompanying dialogues and songs with traditional percussions like the Chenda. Followed by the success of Balan, Jnambika was released in By Marthandavarma the history of silent Malayalam cinema too came to an end. The film was widely acclaimed by one and all and proved to be a great success. But due to a legal confrontation regarding the rights of the film, the producer had to withdraw the film from cinema halls after few exhibitions. But it is notable that while mythological films ruled all over the Indian cinema arena, J C Daniel had the courage to produce the first ever Malayalam film with a social theme. But this success had also an adverse effect on Malayalam cinema. Jeevithanouka was a turning point for Malayalam cinema. The first full-length story film of Phalke was completed in and released at the Coronation cinema on April 21,, for special invitees and members of the Press. Legendary Malayalam poet, G Shankara Kurup penned the lyrics for this film. Films that were produced after Jeevithanouka were made according to this success formula, and nothing creative was seen for a long time. The economic failure of Vigathakumaran discouraged him from producing further films. Thus song-dance sequences became an essential ingredient for commercial success in Malayalam cinema. These joints are moved using sticks and the shadow of these moving puppets are captured on a screen using a light source from behind, creating dramatic moving images on the screen. After Moodupadam, a social film about the relationship between three major religious faiths of the State, Hindu, Christian and Muslims, Ramu Karyat made Chemmeen a definite turning point in Malayalam cinema. The second film Marthandavarma based on a novel of the same name by C V Raman Pillai, was produced by Sunderraj in After Neelakuyil in, he shot Minnaminungu The Firefly in, a path breaking film of Malayalam cinema. Balan, the first Malayalam cinema with a sound track was released in A melodramatic film, with more Tamil influence than Malayalam, Balan featured the struggle of two orphaned children, Balan and his younger sister, oppressed and exploited by their evil stepmother until they are rescued by a kindly lawyer. Cinema continued to be dramas happening in a totally artificial and alien world. What really obsessed him was the desire to see Indian images on the screen in a purely Swadeshi venture. The ill luck of Malayalam cinema continued.