Sobhanachala Studios

Sobhanachala Studios was an Indian film production company that played a significant role in the early development of Telugu cinema. Established in 1941 in Teynampet, Madras, it was among the first studios in the city owned by a Telugu person. The studio was established by Meka Venkatramaiah Appa Rao Bahadur, the Raja of Mirzapuram, who had earlier produced films under the Jaya Films banner.^[1][2]

Sobhanachala Studios

Native name	శోభనాచల స్టూడియోస్
Company type	Limited
Industry	Film
Founded	1941
Founder	Meka Venkatramaiah Appa Rao Bahadur (Raja of Mirzapuram)
Headquarters	Madras (now Chennai) , India
Key people	Meka Venkatramaiah Appa Rao Bahadur, C. Krishnaveni
Products	Motion pictures

Raja of Mirzapuram

Sobhanachala Studios was known for introducing numerous technicians and artists to the Telugu film industry.^[3] Notable figures launched by the studio include actress Anjali Devi (Gollabhama), actor N. T. Rama Rao (Mana Desam), and singer Ghantasala (Lakshmamma).

The studio's debut film was Daksha Yagnam (1941). Among its most notable productions are Gollabhama (1947), Keelu Gurram (1949), Mana Desam (1949), Lakshmamma (1950) and Tilottama (1951). These films were influential in the early history of Telugu talkie cinema during the 1940s. However, with the emergence of Vauhini Studios, the production output of Sobhanachala Studios began to decline. In 1955, the studio was sold and rebranded as Venus Studios, which operated for a decade before becoming defunct in the late 1950s.^[4]

Filmography

Films produced on Jaya Films banner:

• Jarasandha (1938)
• Mahananda (1939)
• Bhoja Kalidasu (1940)
• Jeevana Jyothi (1940)

Films produced on Sobhanachala Pictures banner:

• Daksha Yagnam (1941)
• Bhishma (1944)
• Gollabhama (1947)
• Mahathma Udangar (1947)
• Madalasa (1948)
• Keelu Gurram (1949)
• Mana Desam (1949)
• Lakshmamma (1950)
• Tilottama (1951)
• Gramapennu (1951) (Tamil)^[5]
• Prajaseva (1952)
• Saavasam (1952)