 Udaya Studios logo | |
| Company type | Film production |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 1947 (1947) |
| Founder | Kunchacko |
| Headquarters | Pathirappally,Alappuzha,Kerala |
Key people | Kunchacko Navodaya Appachan Boban Kunchacko |
| Products | Films |
| Divisions | Excel Productions |
Udaya Studios is one of the oldestfilm studios in theMalayalam film industry of India. It was established in 1947 by director-producerKunchacko (1912–1976) and film distributor K. V. Koshy inPathirappally,Alappuzha inKerala.[1] The studio influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry fromChennai,Tamil Nadu toKerala.[2][3] The first film of the studio wasVellinakshatram (1949).[4]
The films made at the studio were produced under the banner ofK & K Productions, and later underExcel Productions (also spelt X. L. Productions). Udaya's professional rivalry withP. Subramaniam'sMaryland Studio was quite famous.[5]
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 establishedUdaya Studios inAlleppey (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.
Years after the defunct Excel Productions,Kunchacko Boban established a new film production company Udaya Pictures and produced the 2016 filmKochauvva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho directed bySidhartha Siva, thus reviving the prestigious Malayalam production house after 30 years.[6][7][8]