Heroines ruled the roost in Malayalam cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. Women as central characters were a big attraction in those days. Three time Urvashi award winner Sarada, Sheela, Ambika, and Ragini were the big draws then.

By the 1980s, superstars started ruling the Malayalam film industry, and meaty roles for women ended. The female characters played second fiddle to Mammootty, Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi. Talented actresses like Shobhana and Revathi stopped acting in Malayalam films following a drought of good roles for them.