Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. It is one of the 22 official languages of India and is also recognized as a classical language by the Government of India. Malayalam is believed to have evolved from the ancient Tamil language, with influences from Sanskrit, Arabic, and Syriac. The earliest written records of Malayalam are found in the Vazhappalli inscription (830 AD) and the Kottayam inscription (849 AD). Malayalam has a rich literary tradition, with works dating back to the 9th century AD. The earliest known literary work in Malayalam is Ramacharitam, a translation of the Ramayana into Malayalam. Other notable works in Malayalam literature include the Thunchath Ezhuthachan’s Adhyathmaramayanam, a retelling of the Ramayana in verse, and the Kunchan Nambiar’s Ottanthullal, a form of classical dance-drama. Malayalam is also known for its rich film industry, with the Malayalam film industry, also known as Mollywood, producing some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films in India. The script used for writing Malayalam is derived from the ancient Brahmi script and is known as Kolezhuthu. Today, the script has evolved into the modern Malayalam script known as the Malayalam Unicode. Malayalam has several dialects, with variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. The dialects are mainly categorized based on geographical regions such as Northern, Central, and Southern dialects. In conclusion, Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. It has a rich literary tradition, a thriving film industry, and a unique script. The language is an integral part of Kerala’s culture and identity. History of Malayalam The history of Malayalam can be traced back to the ancient Tamil language, which is believed to be the parent language of Malayalam. Over time, Malayalam evolved as a distinct language with its own unique script, vocabulary, and grammar. Early records of Malayalam are found in the Vazhappalli inscription (830 AD) and the Kottayam inscription (849 AD), which are written in a mix of Tamil and Malayalam. These inscriptions are believed to be some of the earliest written records of the language. In the 14th century, a work called Ramacharitam was written by Cheeraman, which is believed to be the earliest known literary work in Malayalam. It is a translation of the Ramayana into Malayalam and is written in a mix of Tamil and Malayalam. In the 16th century, Thunchath Ezhuthachan, a prominent Malayalam poet, made significant contributions to the development of the language. He is credited with standardizing the Malayalam script and language by introducing new words and phrases. During the 17th century, Malayalam literature saw a surge in popularity, with the emergence of several prominent poets and writers such as Kunchan Nambiar, who wrote Ottanthullal, a form of classical dance-drama. In the 19th century, the Malayalam language saw significant changes due to the influence of English, as the British established their presence in India. New words and concepts were introduced into the language, and Malayalam literature saw the emergence of several new genres such as novels, short stories, and essays. In the 20th century, the Malayalam language saw further growth and development, with the establishment of a thriving film industry known as Mollywood. Malayalam cinema produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films that helped to popularize the language and its culture. Today, Malayalam is recognized as a classical language by the Government of India and is one of the 22 official languages of India. It is spoken by over 38 million people in India and around the world. The language continues to evolve, with new words and phrases being added to the language to keep up with the changing times.