Merryland

Credits

Descriptions by
naxo-olé and Tabit

Captures by
naxo-olé

Video captures courtesy of
hindi film collection

Background

Merryland was the second film production studio in the Malayalam language film industry of India. It was established in 1951 by P. Subramaniam in Trivandrum, Kerala. The studio has produced 69 films (all them produced under the banner of Neela Productions), with 59 of them directed by P. Subrahmaniam himself. Merryland Studio was famous for their professional rivalry with Udaya Studio, which was the first movie studio of Kerala. This film company closed at the death of P. Subranamiam in 1979.

1st Logo (October 17, 1953-1973)

Logo: We see the first half of the earth (which is rotating). On top of the earth is a statue of a Hindu god with a spear. With the right hand he salutes, and with the left hand he touches the neck of a peacock, which is behind him. Then, the text:

MERRY LAND
Trivandrum

in white zooms and fades in.

Trivia: The god depicted is Kartikeya, also known in Malayalam as Subramanya.

Technique: Live action and practical animation.

Music/Sounds: A cymbal crash, followed by a trumpet solo and a violin. Sometimes silent.

Availability: Uncommon, it was seen on B&W movies from the period, like Ponkathir, Harischandra, Bhakta Kujela, Padatha Painkili, Hotel Highrange, Shree Rama, Balya Sakhi, Swapnangal, Swargaputhri or Avakashi.

2nd Logo (December 26, 1969-1979)

Logo: On a red background with yellow lights, we see a different statue of Subramanya and the peacock from the previous logo above the earth. However, the earth is not rotating unlike the previous logo, then, the text:

MERRYLAND
TRIVANDRUM

in yellow fades in.

Technique: Live action and practical animation.

Music/Sounds: A remastered version of the fanfare that is used in the previous logo. It could sometimes be a rhythmic percussion tune.

Availability: Rare, it was seen on color movies released by the company, like Kumarasambhavan, Sree Guruvayoorappan, Sree Muruganor and Swami Ayyappan.