Merryland

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 (1953-1973)

Logo: We see the first half of the earth (which is rotating). On top of the earth is a statue of an ancient Indian warrior with a lance. 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 warrior is actually Murghan, an Indian God and the primordial deity of the Kaumaram sect. This God has been seen also on Murghan Enterprises, Saravan Films, Films Chendur and Dhandayuthapani Films.

Technique: The earth rotating and the text.

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 (1969-1979)

Logo: On a red background with yellow lights, we see a different statue of Murghan 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: The text.

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.