Merryland Studio

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Malayalam film production studio

title: "Merryland Studio" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["indian-film-studios", "film-distributors-of-india", "film-production-companies-of-kerala", "companies-based-in-thiruvananthapuram", "mass-media-companies-established-in-1951", "mass-media-companies-disestablished-in-1979", "indian-companies-disestablished-in-1979", "indian-companies-established-in-1951"] description: "Malayalam film production studio" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merryland_Studio" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Malayalam film production studio ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameMerryland Studio
typePrivate
foundation
founderP. Subramaniam
location_cityNemom, Thiruvananthapuram
location_countryKerala, India
area_servedKerala
services
industryMotion pictures
productsFilms
subsid
::

| name = Merryland Studio | logo = | caption = | type = Private | foundation = | founder = P. Subramaniam | location_city = Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram | location_country = Kerala, India | defunct = | area_served = Kerala | services = | industry = Motion pictures | products = Films | subsid =

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 Atma Sakhi (1952). Subramaniam primarily worked as a director for the studio. The studio's list includes a string of landmark films of Malayalam cinema history.

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 acted in at least 30 films in the first 10 years of his career, Sathyan was introduced in Merryland's debut film Atmasakhi, Madhu who appeared in many films was also a family friend of theirs, K. V. Shanthi was also known by the name "Merryland Shanthi" for her long-term association with the studio, the trio Travancore sisters also closely associated with the studio, Sharada also worked in many of the films. 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 with the same story, after that one they decided to stop the practice. Their Kumarasambhavam 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. Bhakta Kuchela, Sree Guruvayoorappan, Swami Ayyappan, and Sree Murukan were among their most successful mythological films.

Hridayathinte Nirangal was released before Subramaniam died in 1978. 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".

In 2022, Merryland Studios resumed film production under the newly christened company Merryland Cinemas, debuting with Hridayam (2022)

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

Films produced

Under Neela Productions

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YearTitleDirectorNotes
1952AathmasakhiG. R. RaoFirst film to produce
1953PonkathirE. R. Cooper
1954Balya SakhiAntony Mitradas
Avakasi
1955C.I.D.M. Krishnan Nair
Aniyathi
1956ManthravadiP. Subramaniam
1957Padatha Painkili
Jailpully
1958Randidangazhi
Mariakutty
1959Aana Valarthiya Vanampadi
1960Poothali
Petraval Kanda PeruvazhvuTamil film
1961Christmas Rathri
Bhakta Kuchela
1962Snehadeepam
Shree Rama PattabhishekamG.K. Ramu
1963Snapaka YohannanP. Subramaniam
Kalayum Kaminiyum
1964Atom Bomb
Althaara
1965Pattuthoovaala
Kaliyodum
1966Puthri
Priyathama
Kaattumallika
1968Hotel Highrange
Adhyapika
1969Urangatha Sundary
Kumara Sambhavam
1970Swapnangal
1971Kochaniyathi
Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan
1972Sree Guruvayoorappan
Professor
PreethiWilliam Thomas
1973Swarga PuthriP. Subramaniam
Malai Naattu MangaiTamil film
Kaadu
1974Vandikkari
Devi Kanyakumari
1975Swami Ayyappan
1976Hiridhayam Oru Kshethram
Amba Ambika Ambalika
1977Vidarunna Mottugal
Sreemurukan
Rowdy Rajamma
1979Hridhayathinte Nirangal
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Under Merryland Cinemas

::data[format=table]

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2019Love Action DramaDhyan Sreenivasan
2022HridayamVineeth Sreenivasan3rd highest-grossing film of the year
2024Varshangalkku Shesham
2025Karam
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Films distributed

Vaika Merryland Release

::data[format=table]

YearTitleDirectorLanguage
2024Demonte Colony 2R. Ajay GnanamuthuTamil
Viduthalai Part 2Vetrimaaran
2025RetroKarthik 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.

References

References

  1. Lekshmy Gopalakrishnan. (2 January 2009). "Visionary and entrepreneur". [[The Hindu]].
  2. (8 December 2016). "A second home for Mollywod". [[The Hindu]].
  3. "Merryland Studio: A slice of Mollywood History".
  4. (28 December 2014). "Story of a pioneer and his studio". The Hindu.
  5. "P Subramaniam's biography released".
  6. (28 November 2013). "The Capital of cinema". The Hindu.
  7. (8 March 2014). "Yaanai Valartha Vaanambadi (1959)". The Hindu.
  8. (4 September 2019). "മടങ്ങിയെത്തുന്നു മെറിലാൻഡ്".
  9. (2006). "Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle". Bloomsbury Academic.
  10. "A staunch lover of cinema".
  11. (20 February 2015). "Framed by heritage". The Hindu.
  12. Kumar, M. K. Sunil. (23 October 2021). "Based on a true story". [[The Times of India]].
  13. "Chiranjeevi shares Hridayam first look starring Pranav Mohanal". Indian Newsexpress.
  14. Features, C. E.. (2025-07-16). "Vineeth Sreenivasan's next titled Karam, first look out".

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indian-film-studiosfilm-distributors-of-indiafilm-production-companies-of-keralacompanies-based-in-thiruvananthapurammass-media-companies-established-in-1951mass-media-companies-disestablished-in-1979indian-companies-disestablished-in-1979indian-companies-established-in-1951