As a businessmen, S.S. Vasan was as sharp as a brand-new razor. By the time he bought Gemini Studios, he had gained vast experience in business, having operated in various fields — canvassing advertising and pioneering mail order business and he also bought over a magazine for Rs. 200.
In 1940, S.S. Vasan took over his friend K. Subramaniam’s Motion Picture Producers’ Combines studio on Mount Road and called it Gemini, the name of his lucky horse. And then, he made the perfect move. In July 1941, he organised a tea party for film producers, distributors, studio owners and artistes, simply to let them know about the facilities provided by Gemini Studios for the production of pictures.
It is said that in three months S. S. Vasan managed to equip the studio, located on Mount Road, with the latest technologies of that time — sound recording equipment and modern cameras. The studio had sound-proof stages attached with make-up rooms.
S.S. Vasan succeeded in his efforts to make Gemini one of the top studios. It was part of many super-hit movies. Over the years, the landmark lost its charm and was left abandoned for two decades. The building was broken down and The Park, a star hotel, was opened in 2002 on the same location.
