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Sathya Studios, formerly known asNeptune Studios, was an Indian film studio based inChennai,Tamil Nadu. It was one of the oldest film studios and was formerly known as "Neptune Studio". The studio was bought by the former Indian actor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,M. G. Ramachandran,[1] who later renamed it Sathya Studios.
Originally started by C. V. Raman, who leased a large tract of land, approximately 25 acres, from the Nawab of Arcot.[2] The property was situated in Adayar withGreenways Road to the north and theAdayar River to the south, bordering Broody Castle.
The monthly rent was Rs. 150, and the purpose was to establish a studio floor for 'Lalitha Cinetone.' However, the production company faced financial troubles and did not produce any movies. Subsequently, the premises were transferred to C. V. Raman's newly established company, 'National Theaters Limited,' with Kasi Chettiar and R. Prakash as partners. The first film to come out of the studio was silent film `Vishnu Leela' in 1932 directed by R. Prakash. Later NTL too would plunge into problems and C. V. Raman would launch another production company "Meenakshi Cinetone" to which the studio premises was part of.
Meenakshi Cinetone was founded by C. V. Raman with noted Indian businessman and philanthropist AL. RM.Alagappa Chettiar as in the 1930s of the silent movie era the place was bought by noted film makerK. Subrahmanyam who set up Neptune Studios. His other venture Motion Picture Producers Combine. (a.k.a. MPCC) would becomeGemini Studios underS. S. Vasan.In 1934, the studio released the Tamil talkie movie "Pavalakodi" marking the debuts ofM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first superstar of South India, and its director lawyer-turned-filmmaker,K. Subramaniam and the star-actress,S.D. Subbulakshmi.
The movie was renamed to "Neptune Studios" and in the mid-1950s the Coimbatore-basedJupiter Pictures leased the studio and relocated their base to Chennai after the lease ofCentral Studios were over and its owners ceased movie production.
Neptune Studios was later acquired by the family ofM. G. Ramachandran who renamed it Sathya Studios Private Limited. Now a college for Women in the name ofDr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women functions there.[3]
