The decline of the Malayalam DVD began with the rise of high-speed internet and the subsequent dominance of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar. By 2018, most physical media shops in Kerala had shuttered. While streaming offers instant access, the loss of the DVD meant the loss of a tangible archive. Many smaller, experimental films from the early 2000s that were released only on DVD are now difficult to find, as they have not yet been digitized for streaming platforms. Conclusion

For many Malayalis growing up in the 2000s and 2010s, Friday nights meant a trip to the local "CD library" (or the Indian grocery store abroad) to rent the latest VCD or DVD.

Malayalam cinema is globally praised for its strong storytelling and hyper-realistic narratives. Several eras defined the DVD market: