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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.
Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder | P. Subramaniam |
| Headquarters | , Kerala, India |
Area served | Kerala |
| Products | Films |
| Services | |
| Subsidiaries |
|
History
editSubramaniam 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.[1]
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?]; 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.[2] Bhakta Kuchela, Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972), Swami Ayyappan (1975), and Sreemurukan (1977) were among their most successful mythological films.[3]
Hridayathinte Nirangal was released before Subramaniam died in 1978.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] 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".[12]
In 2022, Merryland Studios resumed film production by Visakh Subramaniam under the newly christened company Merryland Cinemas, debuting with Hridayam (2022)[13]
The company distributed Tamil films Demonte Colony 2 (2024), Viduthalai Part 2 (2024), and Retro (2025) in Kerala under Vaika Merryland Release.
Films produced
editUnder Neela Productions
editUnder Merryland Cinemas
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hridayam | Vineeth Sreenivasan | 3rd highest-grossing film of the year[14] |
| 2024 | Varshangalkku Shesham | ||
| 2025 | Karam | [15] | |
Films distributed
editVaika Merryland Release
edit| Year | Title | Director | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Demonte Colony 2 | R. Ajay Gnanamuthu | Tamil |
| Viduthalai Part 2 | Vetrimaaran | ||
| 2025 | Retro | Karthik Subbaraj |
Television
editThe 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.
| Year | Title | Genre | Director | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | Kadamattathu Kathanar | Horror | T. S. Saji | Asianet | |
| 2005 | Ezham Kadalinakkare | Thriller | Suresh Unnithan | ||
| 2005 | Krishna Kripa Sagaram | Mythology | Rajasenan | Amrita TV | |
| 2006–2008 | Swami Ayyappan | Suresh Unnithan | 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. | Janam TV | |
| 2015 | Durga | Drama | Kurupp Mararikkulam | ||
| 2015 | 7 Rathrikal | Horror | Manoj L. M. | Asianet | |
| 2015–2017 | Pranayam | Drama | Sudheesh Sankar/Thulasidas | ||
| 2016–2018 | Sathyam Shivam Sundaram | Mythology | Manoj LM | Amrita TV | |
| 2018 | Kumarasambhavam | Manoj L. M. | |||
| 2019–2020 | Sabarimala Swami Ayyappan | Kannan Thamarakkulam | Asianet | ||
| 2020–2023 | Paadatha Painkilli | Drama | Sudheesh Sankar | ||
| 2023 | Madhanakamarajan | Epic | Manoj L.M. | YouTube | Web serial |
| 2023-2025 | Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan | Mythology | Sudheesh Sankar 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 | Drama | Sachin K Ibaque | Asianet | |
| 2026- present | Valyettan | Binu Vellathooval | Zee Keralam | [16] | |
References
edit- ↑ Lekshmy Gopalakrishnan (2 January 2009). "Visionary and entrepreneur". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ↑ "A second home for Mollywod". The Hindu. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ↑ "Merryland Studio: A slice of Mollywood History".
- ↑ Chelangad, Saju (28 December 2014). "Story of a pioneer and his studio". The Hindu.
- ↑ "P Subramaniam's biography released".
- ↑ Chandran, Baiju (28 November 2013). "The Capital of cinema". The Hindu.
- ↑ Guy, Randor (8 March 2014). "Yaanai Valartha Vaanambadi (1959)". The Hindu.
- ↑ "മടങ്ങിയെത്തുന്നു മെറിലാൻഡ്". 4 September 2019.
- ↑ Kasbekar, Asha (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781851096367.
- ↑ "A staunch lover of cinema".
- ↑ Sathyendran, Nita (20 February 2015). "Framed by heritage". The Hindu.
- ↑ Kumar, M. K. Sunil (23 October 2021). "Based on a true story". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ↑ "Chiranjeevi shares Hridayam first look starring Pranav Mohanal". Indian Newsexpress.
- ↑ "'Hridayam' was the perfect relaunch for Merryland banner: Producer Visakh Subramaniam". Onmanorama. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ Features, C. E. (16 July 2025). "Vineeth Sreenivasan's next titled Karam, first look out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ↑ "Hit duo Jayakrishnan and Veena are back; Valyettan coming soon". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 April 2026.