Malayalam is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep. It is the official language of Kerala and is known for its rich literary tradition, with a history that dates back over a thousand years. The language has its own script, also called Malayalam, which is derived from the ancient Brahmi script. With around 38 million speakers, it is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and plays a significant role in the cultural identity of the Malayali people.