Merryland Studio


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

bought land at Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram, and founded the studio in 1951. Their first production was Atma Sakhi. 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
The company distributed Tamil films Demonte Colony 2, Viduthalai Part 2 and Retro in Kerala under Vaika Merryland Release.

Films produced

Under Neela Productions

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1952AathmasakhiG. R. RaoFirst film to produce
1953PonkathirE. R. Cooper
1954Balya SakhiAntony Mitradas
1954AvakasiAntony Mitradas
1955C.I.D.M. Krishnan Nair
1955AniyathiM. Krishnan Nair
1956ManthravadiP. Subramaniam
1957Padatha PainkiliP. Subramaniam
1957JailpullyP. Subramaniam
1958RandidangazhiP. Subramaniam
1958MariakuttyP. Subramaniam
1959Aana Valarthiya VanampadiP. Subramaniam
1960PoothaliP. Subramaniam
1960Petraval Kanda PeruvazhvuP. SubramaniamTamil film
1961Christmas RathriP. Subramaniam
1961Bhakta KuchelaP. Subramaniam
1962SnehadeepamP. Subramaniam
1962Shree Rama PattabhishekamG.K. Ramu-
1963Snapaka YohannanP. Subramaniam
1963Kalayum KaminiyumP. Subramaniam
1964Atom BombP. Subramaniam
1964AlthaaraP. Subramaniam
1965PattuthoovaalaP. Subramaniam
1965KaliyodumP. Subramaniam
1966PuthriP. Subramaniam
1966PriyathamaP. Subramaniam
1966KaattumallikaP. Subramaniam
1968Hotel HighrangeP. Subramaniam
1968AdhyapikaP. Subramaniam
1969Urangatha SundaryP. Subramaniam
1969Kumara SambhavamP. Subramaniam
1970SwapnangalP. Subramaniam
1971KochaniyathiP. Subramaniam
1971Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude MakanP. Subramaniam
1972Sree GuruvayoorappanP. Subramaniam
1972ProfessorP. Subramaniam
1972PreethiWilliam Thomas
1973Swarga PuthriP. Subramaniam
1973Malai Naattu MangaiP. SubramaniamTamil film
1973KaaduP. Subramaniam
1974VandikkariP. Subramaniam
1974Devi KanyakumariP. Subramaniam
1975Swami AyyappanP. Subramaniam
1976Hiridhayam Oru KshethramP. Subramaniam
1976Amba Ambika AmbalikaP. Subramaniam
1977Vidarunna MottugalP. Subramaniam
1977SreemurukanP. Subramaniam
1977Rowdy RajammaP. Subramaniam
1979Hridhayathinte NirangalP. Subramaniam

Under Merryland Cinemas

Films distributed

Vaika Merryland Release

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

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.
YearTitleGenreDirectorChannelNotes
2004–2005Kadamattathu KathanarHorrorT. S. SajiAsianet
2005Ezham KadalinakkareThrillerSuresh UnnithanAsianet
2005Krishna Kripa SagaramMythologyRajasenanAmrita TV
2006–2008Swami AyyappanMythologySuresh UnnithanAsianet
2008Shri Krishna LeelaMythologySuresh UnnithanAsianet
2008–2010Shri MahabhagavathamMythologyThulasidasAsianet
2009Swami Ayyappan SaranamMythologyThulasidasAsianet
2008–2012DevimahathmyamMythologyViji Thampi, ThulasidasAsianetlongest running mythological TV series, Completed 1000 episodes
2010–2012Alavudeente AlbuthavilakkuFantasyT.S.Suresh BabuAsianet
2012–2015AmmaEmotionalKannan Thamarakkulam/Dileep ThavanurAsianetRemake of Maa aired in Star Jalsha
2012Sabarimala Shri DharmashasthaMythologyThulasidasAsianet
2015–2016Vazhve MayamDramaManoj L. M.DD Malayalam
2015Sreekrishna VijayamMythologyManoj L. M.Janam TV
2015DurgaDramaKurupp MararikkulamJanam TV
20157 RathrikalHorrorManoj L. M.Asianet
2015–2017PranayamDramaSudheesh Sankar/ThulasidasAsianet
2016–2018Sathyam Shivam SundaramMythologyManoj LMAmrita TV
2018KumarasambhavamMythologyManoj L. M.Amrita TV
2019–2020Sabarimala Swami AyyappanMythologyKannan ThamarakkulamAsianet
2020–2023Paadatha PainkilliDramaSudheesh SankarAsianet
2023MadhanakamarajanEpicManoj L.M.YouTubeWeb serial
2023-2025Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan MythologySudheesh Sankar
Vinod Bhagavathinada		Asianet
2023- 2024Attukal AmmaMythologyViji ThampiFlowers TVPreviously known as Amme Bhagavathy till 29 January 2024
2024- 2025Etho Janma KalpanayilDramaSachin K IbaqueAsianet