Merryland Studio

{{short description|Malayalam film production studio}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox company | name = Merryland Studio | logo = | caption = | type = Private | founded = {{Start date and age|1951||}} | founder = P. Subramaniam | hq_location_city = Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram | hq_location_country = Kerala, India | defunct = | area_served = Kerala | services = {{Bulleted_list|Film production|Film distribution}} | industry = Motion pictures | products = Films | subsidiaries = {{Unbulleted_list|Neela Productions<br>Vaika Merryland Release}} }}

'''Merryland Studio''' is an Indian film studio based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was established in 1950 by former Thiruvananthapuram mayor and businessman P. Subramaniam. He produced 70 films, 59 of them directed by himself. He was active between 1951 – 1979. The studio's home productions were made under the company '''Neela Productions'''. Merryland Studio was famous for their professional rivalry with Kunchacko's Udaya Studio. In 2024, the company started distributing Tamil films under '''Vaika Merryland Release''' in Kerala.

==History== Subramaniam bought land at Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram, and founded the studio in 1951. Their first production was ''Aaathmasakhi'' (1952). Subramaniam primarily worked as a director for the studio. The studio's list includes a string of landmark films of Malayalam cinema history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250680300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629060110/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250680300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|title=Visionary and entrepreneur|author=Lekshmy Gopalakrishnan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 January 2009|accessdate=7 March 2011}}</ref>

In the 1950s, Malayalam film production were shuttling between Madras and Udaya Studio in Alappuzha. It was at that time Merryland Studio was set up at a five-and-a-half acres of land, easing the productions of Malayalam films. At its peak time, the studio used to employ close to 80 personnel. Many of the actors and actresses frequently appeared in Merryland films: Prem Nazir, who acted in at least 30 films in the first 10 years of his career; Sathyan, who was introduced in ''Aaathmasakhi''; Madhu, who was also a family friend of theirs{{Who|date=March 2026}}; K. V. Shanthi, also known as "Merryland Shanthi"; the Travancore sisters trio (Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini); and Sharada. Others who were introduced through Neela Productions' films are Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Miss Kumari, Vinodini Sasimohan, Srividya, Aranmula Ponnamma, S. P. Pillai among others. The competition between Udaya Studio and Merryland Studio was so intense that at one point, when Merryland released ''Bhaktha Kuchela'', Udaya released ''Krishna Kuchela'' (1961) with the same story; after that film, they decided to stop the practice. Their ''Kumarasambhavam'' (1969) won the first Kerala State Film Award for Best Film when it was established in 1969. Merryland's films revolved around either social issues or mythology; they were mostly known for mythological films, which were the most successful.<ref>{{cite news |title=A second home for Mollywod |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/A-second-home-for-Mollywod/article16776992.ece |access-date=26 October 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=8 December 2016}}</ref> ''Bhakta Kuchela'', ''Sree Guruvayoorappan'' (1972), ''Swami Ayyappan'' (1975), and ''Sreemurukan'' (1977) were among their most successful mythological films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/flashback/merryland-studio-a-slice-of-mollywood-history-nemam-subramanium-1.1397408|title = Merryland Studio: A slice of Mollywood History}}</ref>

''Hridayathinte Nirangal'' was released before Subramaniam died in 1978.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/story-of-a-pioneer-and-his-studio/article6732735.ece|title=Story of a pioneer and his studio|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 December 2014|last1=Chelangad|first1=Saju}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/apr/21/p-subramaniams-biography-released-1966986.html|title=P Subramaniam's biography released}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-capital-of-cinema/article5401273.ece|title=The Capital of cinema|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 November 2013|last1=Chandran|first1=Baiju}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/yaanai-valartha-vaanambadi-1959/article5764122.ece|title = Yaanai Valartha Vaanambadi (1959)|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 8 March 2014|last1 = Guy|first1 = Randor}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/merryland-studio-returns-to-malayalam-cinema-movies-production-company-sreevisakh-release-1.4094362|title = മടങ്ങിയെത്തുന്നു മെറിലാൻഡ്| date=4 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&q=%22merryland+studio%22&pg=PA234|title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle|isbn=9781851096367|last1=Kasbekar|first1=Asha|year=2006|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2016/nov/06/a-staunch-lover-of-cinema-1535702.html|title = A staunch lover of cinema}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/framed-by-heritage/article6916787.ece|title=Framed by heritage|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 February 2015|last1=Sathyendran|first1=Nita}}</ref> In 2021, screenwriter John Paul wrote in an article that "The studios set up by P. Subramaniam and Kunchacko—Merryland and Udaya—respectively, led to the development of a full-fledged Malayalam film industry".<ref>{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=M. K. Sunil |title=Based on a true story |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/based-on-a-true-story/ |access-date=26 October 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=23 October 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, Merryland Studios resumed film production by Visakh Subramaniam under the newly christened company Merryland Cinemas, debuting with ''Hridayam'' (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/chiranjeevi-shares-hridayam-first-look-starring-pranav-mohanlal-kalyani-priyadarshan-darshana-rajendran-7279973/|title=Chiranjeevi shares Hridayam first look starring Pranav Mohanal|publisher=Indian Newsexpress}}</ref>

The company distributed Tamil films ''Demonte Colony 2'' (2024), ''Viduthalai Part 2'' (2024), and ''Retro'' (2025) in Kerala under Vaika Merryland Release.

==Films produced== ===Under Neela Productions===

{| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Director ! class="unsortable" |Notes |-

|1953 |''Ponkathir'' |E. R. Cooper | |-

|rowspan="2"|1955 |''C.I.D.'' |rowspan="2"|M. Krishnan Nair | |- |''Aniyathi'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1957 |''Padatha Painkili'' | |- |''Jailpully'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1958 |''Randidangazhi'' | |- |''Mariakutty'' | |-

|1959 |''Aana Valarthiya Vanampadi'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1960 |''Poothali'' | |- |''Petraval Kanda Peruvazhvu'' |Tamil film |-

|rowspan="2"|1961 |''Christmas Rathri'' | |- |''Bhakta Kuchela'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1962 |''Snehadeepam'' | |- |''Shree Rama Pattabhishekam'' |G.K. Ramu |-

|rowspan="2"|1964 |''Atom Bomb'' | |- |''Althaara'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1965 |''Pattuthoovaala'' | |- |''Kaliyodum'' | |-

|rowspan="3"|1966 |''Puthri'' | |- |''Priyathama'' | |- |''Kaattumallika'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1968 |''Hotel Highrange'' | |- |''Adhyapika'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1969 |''Urangatha Sundary'' | |- |''Kumara Sambhavam'' | |-

|1970 |''Swapnangal'' | |-

|rowspan="2"|1971 |''Kochaniyathi'' | |- |''Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan'' | |-

|rowspan="3"|1972 |''Sree Guruvayoorappan'' | |- |''Professor'' | |- |Preethi |William Thomas | |-

|rowspan="2"|1974 |Vandikkari | |- |Devi Kanyakumari | |-

|1975 |Swami Ayyappan | |-

|rowspan="2"|1976 |Hiridhayam Oru Kshethram | |- |Amba Ambika Ambalika | |-

|rowspan="3"|1977 |Vidarunna Mottugal | |- |Sreemurukan | |- |Rowdy Rajamma | |-

|1979 |Hridhayathinte Nirangal | |- |}

===Under Merryland Cinemas=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !! Title !! Director !! class="unsortable" |Notes |- | 2022 || ''Hridayam'' || rowspan=3 | Vineeth Sreenivasan || 3rd highest-grossing film of the year<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-11 |title='Hridayam' was the perfect relaunch for Merryland banner: Producer Visakh Subramaniam. |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/02/10/hridayam-pranava-vineeth-merryland-visakh-subramaniam.html|access-date=2026-04-20 |website=Onmanorama|language=en}}</ref> |- | 2024 ||''Varshangalkku Shesham'' || |- | 2025 || ''Karam'' ||<ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2025-07-16 |title=Vineeth Sreenivasan's next titled Karam, first look out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Jul/16/vineeth-sreenivasans-next-titled-karam-first-look-out |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> |- |}

==Films distributed== ===Vaika Merryland Release===

{| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Director ! class="unsortable" |Language |- |rowspan="2" |2024 |''Demonte Colony 2'' |R. Ajay Gnanamuthu |rowspan="3" | Tamil |- |''Viduthalai Part 2'' | Vetrimaaran |- | 2025 | ''Retro'' | Karthik Subbaraj |}

== Television == The following serials are produced by Karthikeyan, Murugan and Saranya Subramaniam under the banner of Merryland, Sree Subramaniam Enterprises, Sree Saravana Enterprises and Sree Saran Creations.

*''All TV series are in Malayalam.'' {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !!Genre !!Director!!Channel!!Notes |- |2004–2005 ||''Kadamattathu Kathanar''||Horror||T. S. Saji |rowspan=2|Asianet|| |- |2005 ||''Ezham Kadalinakkare''||Thriller||Suresh Unnithan || |- |2005|| ''Krishna Kripa Sagaram''||rowspan=6|Mythology||Rajasenan ||Amrita TV|| |- |2006–2008 ||''Swami Ayyappan''||Suresh Unnithan|| rowspan=8|Asianet|| |- |2008 ||''Shri Krishna Leela''||Suresh Unnithan|| |- |2008–2010|| ''Shri Mahabhagavatham''||Thulasidas|| |- |2009 ||''Swami Ayyappan Saranam''||Thulasidas|| |- |2008–2012|| ''Devimahathmyam''||Viji Thampi, Thulasidas||longest running mythological TV series, Completed 1000 episodes

|- |2010–2012||''Alavudeente Albuthavilakku'' ||Fantasy||T.S.Suresh Babu||

|- |2012–2015|| ''Amma''||Emotional ||Kannan Thamarakkulam/Dileep Thavanur||Remake of Maa aired in Star Jalsha

|- |2012 ||''Sabarimala Shri Dharmashastha''||Mythology||Thulasidas|| |- |2015–2016|| Vazhve Mayam||Drama||Manoj L. M. |DD Malayalam|| |- |2015||Sreekrishna Vijayam||Mythology||Manoj L. M. |rowspan=2|Janam TV|| |- |2015 |Durga |Drama |Kurupp Mararikkulam | |- |2015||7 Rathrikal||Horror||Manoj L. M.||rowspan=2|Asianet|| |- |2015–2017||''Pranayam''||Drama||Sudheesh Sankar/Thulasidas || |- |2016–2018||''Sathyam Shivam Sundaram''||rowspan=3|Mythology||Manoj LM||rowspan=2|Amrita TV|| |- |2018||''Kumarasambhavam'' ||Manoj L. M.|| |- |2019–2020||''Sabarimala Swami Ayyappan'' ||Kannan Thamarakkulam||rowspan=2|Asianet|| |- |2020–2023||''Paadatha Painkilli''||Drama||Sudheesh Sankar|| |- |2023||''Madhanakamarajan''||Epic||Manoj L.M.||YouTube||Web serial |- |2023-2025||''Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan ''||rowspan=2|Mythology ||Sudheesh Sankar <br> Vinod Bhagavathinada||Asianet|| |- |2023- 2024||''Attukal Amma'' ||Viji Thampi||Flowers TV||Previously known as ''Amme Bhagavathy'' till 29 January 2024 |- |2024- 2025||''Etho Janma Kalpanayil''||Rowspan=2|Drama ||Sachin K Ibaque||Asianet|| |- |2026- present||''Valyettan''||Binu Vellathooval||Zee Keralam||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hit duo Jayakrishnan and Veena are back; Valyettan coming soon|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/hit-duo-jayakrishnan-and-veena-are-back-valyettan-coming-soon/articleshow/129608740.cms |access-date=19 April 2026|website=The Times of India|language=en-IN}}</ref> |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Indian film studios Category:Film distributors of India Category:Film production companies of Kerala Category:Companies based in Thiruvananthapuram Category:Mass media companies established in 1951 Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1979 Category:Indian companies disestablished in 1979 Category:Indian companies established in 1951