Gemini Studios

Gemini Studios was an Indian film studio based in Madras, Tamil Nadu. It was launched when S. S. Vasan, a businessman of many ventures (including the ownership of Ananda Vikatan) bought Motion Picture Producers' Combines from Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam and renamed it[1]. The studio re-opened under the name Gemini. Despite the common beliefs about a lucky racehorse or the astrological sign of his wife, it was the logo Vasan chose that led to the name. Subrahmanyam had shown him a picture of his very young boys, blowing on toy trumpets in the nude. Vasan chose the pose to craft the logo and hence the name Gemini-- The Twins[2]. The new facade also had statues of ‘The Gemini Twins’, blowing the bugle. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film Industry. The Gemini twins became a household symbol and the Gemini flyover was named after the original studio at that junction. Gemini Studios is one of the few producers in Tamil cinema to survive beyond 100 productions along with AVM, Modern Theatres, Thenandal Films, etc.

Not to be confused with Gemini Film Circuit.

Gemini Studios
Limited
IndustryMotion pictures
Founded1940 (1940)
FounderS. S. Vasan
Defunct1975 (1975)
Headquarters
Madras
,
India
Area served
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Bollywood
Andhra Pradesh
Websitehttp://geminiindia.in

Early history

S.S.Vasan bought from his friend K. Subramanyam a Film distribution business Motion Picture Producers' Combines studio on Mount Road for Rs.86,427-11-9,the odd figure arrived at through including the interest on unpaid wages of the employees and it was renamed as Gemini Studios in the year 1940.[3] G. Kamble, a painter from Kolhapur worked at the studios in his early life.[4]

Time line
  • 1941 – Madanakamarajan with the arrival of K. Ramnoth, a cameraman and scenarist, and A.K. Sekhar, art director brought many changes in production.
  • 1942 – Jeevana Mukthi is their first film in Telugu language remake of Bhaktha Chetha (1940) of K. Subramanyam.[5]
  • 1942 – Nandanar A Tamil film starring M. M. Dandapani Desikar and Serukalathur Sama
  • 1943 – Mangamma Sapatham
  • 1945 – Kannamma En Kadhali
  • 1944 – Dasi Aparanji
  • 1947 – Miss Malini
  • 1948 – Kalpana. This was Uday Shankar's dance spectacular, shot at the studio, that set the trend for future choreographers.
  • 1948 – Chandralekha a magnificent movie by S. S. Vasan that was a first for a Tamil to achieve All India distribution and brought excellent returns.
  • 1949 – Apoorva Sahodarargal A `costume adventure` film in three languages – Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and a major success.
  • 1952 – Moondru Pillaigal – Tamil. Made also in Telugu as Mugguru Kodukulu
  • 1953 – Avvaiyyar - A Tamil film that proved a major box-office hit.
  • 1954 - Rajee En Kanmani - Bilingual Film. Telugu Films title Rajee Naa Pranam
  • 1955 – Insaniyat -A Hindi film starring Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand.
  • 1958 – Vanjikottai Valiban and Raj Tilak – A Tamil and Hindi film starring Gemini Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala and Padmini.
  • 1959 – Paigham – A Hindi film starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Raaj Kumar.
  • 1965 – Vaazhkai Padagu – A Tamil film starring Gemini Ganesan, Devika
  • 1966 – Motor Sundaram Pillai – This was Sivaji Ganesan's sole film for Gemini Studios. After S.S. Vasan's death, his son S.S. Balasubramanyam took the reins.
  • 1969 – Manushulu Marali – A Telugu film starring Shoban Babu.
  • 1971 – Irulum Oliyum – A Tamil film starring A. V. M. Rajan, Vanisri
  • 1975 – Ellorum Nallavare – This was a flop and the studio's fortunes declined in the 70s and it was taken over by Anand Cine Services later.

Aftermath

After the studio being abandoned for two decades, the buildings were razed and a luxury hotel called The Park was constructed and opened in 2002.[6][7]

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References
  1. A Madras Miscellany, S. Muthiah, Published by EastWest Books, pg 644 Categories
  2. A Madras Miscellany, S. Muthiah, Published by EastWest Books, pg 260
  3. "The Hindu : Recalling what Gemini did". Hindujobs.com. 8 July 2002. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. "B News Kolhapur Segment". B News. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. Jeevanmukthi (1942), blast from the past, M.L.Narasimham, The Hindu, 13 November 2011.
  6. "Gemini Studio a dream hotel now". The Times of India. 16 May 2002. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  7. "The Park Hotel Chennai, The Park Hotel Chennai India, Reservation of The Park Hotel Chennai, Deluxe Hotels in Chennai". Chennaihub.com. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
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