Tamil cinema began in the 1910s, with the first film, "Keechaka Vadham," being released in 1918. The industry gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s with films like "Rangoli" (1956) and "Padava" (1961). The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Vijay, who are still celebrated today.