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 Studios. 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.
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; 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. Bhakta Kuchela, Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972), Swami Ayyappan (1975), and Sreemurukan (1977) 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 Merryland Cinemas, headed by Visakh Subramaniam, who was also the founder of Funtastic Films, with Hridayam (2022) serving as its first production.
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
YearTitleDirectorNotes1952AathmasakhiG. R. RaoFirst film to produce1953PonkathirE. R. Cooper1954Balya SakhiAntony MitradasAvakasi1955C.I.D.M. Krishnan NairAniyathi1956ManthravadiP. Subramaniam1957Padatha PainkiliJailpully1958RandidangazhiMariakutty1959Aana Valarthiya Vanampadi1960PoothaliPetraval Kanda PeruvazhvuTamil film1961Christmas RathriBhakta Kuchela1962SnehadeepamShree Rama PattabhishekamG.K. Ramu1963Snapaka YohannanP. SubramaniamKalayum Kaminiyum1964Atom BombAlthaara1965PattuthoovaalaKaliyodum1966PuthriPriyathamaKaattumallika1968Hotel HighrangeAdhyapika1969Urangatha SundaryKumara Sambhavam1970Swapnangal1971KochaniyathiAana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan1972Sree GuruvayoorappanProfessorPreethiWilliam Thomas1973Swarga PuthriP. SubramaniamMalai Naattu MangaiTamil filmKaadu1974VandikkariDevi Kanyakumari1975Swami Ayyappan1976Hiridhayam Oru KshethramAmba Ambika Ambalika1977Vidarunna MottugalSreemurukanRowdy Rajamma1979Hridhayathinte Nirangal
Under Merryland Cinemas Year Title Director Notes 2022 Hridayam Vineeth Sreenivasan 3rd highest-grossing film of the year 2024 Varshangalkku Shesham 2025 Karam
Films distributed Vaika Merryland Release
YearTitleDirectorLanguage2024Demonte Colony 2R. Ajay Gnanamuthu TamilViduthalai 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. Year Title Genre DirectorChannelNotes2004–2005 Kadamattathu KathanarHorrorT. S. SajiAsianet 2005 Ezham KadalinakkareThrillerSuresh Unnithan 2005 Krishna Kripa SagaramMythologyRajasenanAmrita TV2006–2008 Swami AyyappanSuresh UnnithanAsianet2008 Shri Krishna LeelaSuresh Unnithan2008–2010 Shri MahabhagavathamThulasidas2009 Swami Ayyappan SaranamThulasidas2008–2012 DevimahathmyamViji Thampi, Thulasidaslongest running mythological TV series, Completed 1000 episodes2010–2012Alavudeente Albuthavilakku FantasyT.S.Suresh Babu2012–2015 AmmaEmotional Kannan Thamarakkulam/Dileep ThavanurRemake of Maa aired in Star Jalsha2012 Sabarimala Shri DharmashasthaMythologyThulasidas2015–2016 Vazhve MayamDramaManoj L. M.DD Malayalam2015Sreekrishna VijayamMythologyManoj L. M. Janam TV2015DurgaDramaKurupp Mararikkulam20157 RathrikalHorrorManoj L. M.Asianet2015–2017PranayamDramaSudheesh Sankar/Thulasidas 2016–2018Sathyam Shivam SundaramMythologyManoj LMAmrita TV2018Kumarasambhavam Manoj L. M.2019–2020Sabarimala Swami Ayyappan Kannan ThamarakkulamAsianet2020–2023Paadatha PainkilliDramaSudheesh Sankar2023MadhanakamarajanEpicManoj L.M.YouTubeWeb serial2023-2025Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan Mythology Sudheesh Sankar Vinod BhagavathinadaAsianet2023- 2024Amme Bhagavathy Viji ThampiFlowers TV 2024Attukal Amma Viji ThampiFlowers TV 2024- 2025Etho Janma KalpanayilDrama Sachin K IbaqueAsianet2026- presentValyettanBinu VellathoovalZee Keralam Thenmavin KombathuVasudev SanalSun Surya
References