Udaya Studios was one of the oldest film studios in the Malayalam film industry of India. It was established in 1947 by director-producer Kunchacko (1912–1976) and film distributor K. V. Koshy in Pathirappally, Alappuzha in Kerala.[1] The studio influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Chennai, Tamil Nadu to Trivandrum, now considered a milestone in the history of Malayalam film industry.[2][3] The first film of the studio was Vellinakshatram (1949).[4]
| Company type | Film production |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder | Kunchacko |
| Headquarters | Pathirappally, Alappuzha, Kerala |
Key people | Kunchacko Navodaya Appachan Boban Kunchacko |
| Products | Films |
| Divisions | Excel Productions |
The films produced at the studio were produced under the banner of K & K Combines, and later under Excel Productions (also spelt X. L. Productions). Udaya's professional rivalry with P. Subramaniam's Maryland Studio was quite famous.[5]
History
Kunchacko established a film production company named Udaya Pictures in 1947, though he continued production at traditional base of Malayalam film, Chennai, but it all changed in 1947 when he came together with film distributors K. V. Koshy and R. A. Krishnan and established Udaya Studios in Alleppey (Alappuzha), and in time the studio also set up its own distribution network. Soon it had a string of successes with blockbusters based on Vadakkan Pattu.
- Unniyarcha (1961)
- Palattukoman (1962)
- Othenante Makan (1970)
- Aromalunni (1972)
- Ponnapuram Kotta (1973)
- Thumbolarcha (1974)
- Kannappanunni (1977)
- Palattu Kunjikannan (1980)
Resuming production
Years after the defunct Excel Productions, Kunchacko Boban established a new film production company Udaya Pictures and produced the 2016 film Kochauvva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho directed by Sidhartha Siva, thus reviving the prestigious Malayalam production house after 30 years.[6][7][8]