View source for Kalanithi Maran

{{Short description|Indian businessman}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Kalanidhi Maran
| post-nominals      = 
| image              = The Minister for Communication &amp; IT Shri Dayanidhi Maran and CMD Sun Network Shri Kalanidhi Maran presenting a cheque of Rs. 5.5 crore to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh towards PMNRF for Tsunami Victims in New Delhi.jpg
| caption            = 
| native_name        = 
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = <!--Birthdate must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs. No IMDb. No public records. See WP:BLPPRIVACY-->
| birth_place        = <!--Must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb.-->
| alma_mater         = [[Loyola College, Chennai]]<br>[[University of Scranton]]
| occupation         = Media baron
| known_for          = Founder of the [[Sun Group]]
| spouse             = Kavery Kalanithi
| children           = 1
| parents            = 
| networth           = {{up}} [[United States dollar|US$]]2.6 billion (May 2021)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/kalanithi-maran/ |title=Kalanithi Maran |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=9 February 2019 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023142314/https://www.forbes.com/profile/kalanithi-maran/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| television         = [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
}}

'''Kalanithi Maran''' is an [[India]]n media baron who is the chairman and founder of the [[Sun Group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/from-cable-tv-to-aviation-biz-marans-march-continues/645471/2 |title=From cable TV to aviation biz, Maran's march continues |work=The Financial Express |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=9 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909031352/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/from-cable-tv-to-aviation-biz-marans-march-continues/645471/2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/apr/24sun-zee-tv-top-profitability-chart.htm |title=Sun, Zee remain top on profitability charts |publisher=Rediff.com |date=31 December 2004 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=15 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115115947/http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/apr/24sun-zee-tv-top-profitability-chart.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mybtechlife.com/the-list-of-great-entrepreneurs-in-india-2015/ |title=The List of Great Entrepreneurs of India in 2015 |publisher=MyBTechLife |author=Srikar Muthyala |date=29 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114000446/http://mybtechlife.com/the-list-of-great-entrepreneurs-in-india-2015/ |archive-date=14 January 2016 }}</ref> He owns television channels, newspapers, weeklies, FM radio stations, DTH services, a cricket team ([[Sunrisers Hyderabad]]),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mishra|first=Aditya|date=2021-04-06|title=IPL Team Owners {{!}} List Of All IPL 2021 Team Owners|url=https://www.kreedon.com/ipl-team-owners-2021/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529194940/https://www.kreedon.com/ipl-team-owners-2021/|archive-date=29 May 2021|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Voice of Indian Sports - KreedOn|language=en-GB}}</ref> and a movie production house. He also held a major share in the Indian airline [[Spice Jet]] from 2010 to 2015.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5765676.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Strategic investor crucial for global foray | date=6 April 2010 | access-date=13 September 2010 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603095228/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5765676.cms | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/new-deal-to-take-spicejet-higher/398222/ |title=New deal to take SpiceJet higher |work=Business Standard |date=15 June 2010 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607102049/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/new-deal-to-take-spicejet-higher/398222/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=hindu>{{cite news |title=Kalanidhi Maran buys 37.7 p.c. stake in SpiceJet |url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article454226.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=13 June 2010 |access-date=8 August 2010 |location=Chennai, India |archive-date=24 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824055836/http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article454226.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career==
In 1990, Maran started a monthly magazine in Tamil called ''Poomaalai''. On 14 April 1993, he founded Sun TV.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/1130/india-richest-09-maran-sun-television-strong-signal.html |title=Strong Signal |work=Forbes |date=30 November 2009 |access-date=8 August 2010 |first=Naazneen |last=Karmali |archive-date=29 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829105224/http://www.forbes.com/global/2009/1130/india-richest-09-maran-sun-television-strong-signal.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/28spec.htm |title=Rediff India Abroad, April 28, 2006 – Kalanithi Maran: A 'Sunshine' story, by Sanjiv Shankaran and S. Bridget Leena in New Delhi |publisher=Rediff.com |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-date=21 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521083603/http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/28spec.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Sun TV was listed on the [[Bombay Stock Exchange]] on 24 April 2006 upon raising $133 million<ref>{{cite news |last=Bharatan |first=Shilpa |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117940460.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Variety.com, Monday, April 24, 2006, 6:36pm PT – Sun TV shines on Exchange |work=Variety |date=27 March 2006 |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-date=17 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717060324/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117940460.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> for 10% of the share capital, catapulting him into the billionaire charts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.plethico.com/addons%5Cmedia%5CArchive%5C42%20Join%20Billionaire%20Club%20post%20IPO.PDF |title=Kalanithi Maran emerges a billionaire after maiden IPO |access-date=9 November 2014 |archive-date=9 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109144030/http://www.plethico.com/addons%5Cmedia%5CArchive%5C42%20Join%20Billionaire%20Club%20post%20IPO.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref> He was among the few representatives at a roundtable with the visiting then US President [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/personalities/media3.asp |title=Media Personalities – Kalanidhi Maran |publisher=Chennai Best |access-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212201913/http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/personalities/media3.asp |archive-date=12 February 2012  }}</ref>
 
By 2010, he was the 17th richest Indian, with a net worth of US$4 Billion,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/77/india-rich-10_Kalanithi-Maran_DWSG.html | work=Forbes | title=#17 Kalanithi Maran | date=29 September 2010 | access-date=2 September 2017 | archive-date=24 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135904/https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/77/india-rich-10_Kalanithi-Maran_DWSG.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and is the highest paid business executive in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/newsmaker-kalanithi-maran/398577/ |title=Newsmaker: Kalanithi Maran |work=Business Standard |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=13 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213223335/http://business-standard.com/india/news/newsmaker-kalanithi-maran/398577/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Maran and his wife, Kavery were ranked the highest paid  Business executives in the list of Indian executive pay charts with a package of {{INRConvert|62|c}} each. 

He has won Young Businessman awards from [[CNBC]] and [[Ernst & Young]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunnetwork.org/aboutus/default.htm |title=Welcome To Sun Network |publisher=Sunnetwork.org |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=1 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901050429/http://www.sunnetwork.org/aboutus/default.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine named him the "Television king of southern India".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/77/india-billionaires-09_Kalanithi-Maran_DWSG.html |title=#20 Kalanithi Mar |work=Forbes |date=18 November 2009 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=8 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808060826/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/77/india-billionaires-09_Kalanithi-Maran_DWSG.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kalanithi Maran is the son of the former Union Minister of India [[Murasoli Maran]] and grand nephew of former [[Tamil Nadu]] [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|chief minister]] [[M. Karunanidhi]]. His younger brother [[Dayanidhi Maran]] was also a former minister. Kalanithi Maran married Kavery, a native of [[Coorg]] and has a daughter named [[Kaviya|Kaviya Maran]]<ref>{{cite web|title=MEDIA MARAN|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main31.asp?filename=Ne090607Upclose.asp|work=Tehelka|access-date=22 July 2013|date=9 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219044800/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main31.asp?filename=Ne090607Upclose.asp|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> He had his schooling with [[Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School|Don Bosco, Egmore]], Chennai. He graduated in Commerce from [[Loyola College, Chennai]]. He did his MBA from [[University of Scranton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/the-sun-king-and-his-brother-114082900874_1.html | title=The story of Marans: Sun King and his brother | publisher=[[Business Standard]] | date=30 August 2014 | access-date=28 January 2018 | archive-date=28 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128190529/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/the-sun-king-and-his-brother-114082900874_1.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sun.in Sun Group]
* [https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/1130/india-richest-09-maran-sun-television-strong-signal.html Forbes]

{{Sun TV Network}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maran, Kalanithi}}
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil billionaires]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian television executives]]
[[Category:Tamil businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:University of Scranton alumni]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:Don Bosco schools alumni]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Tamil entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Sun Group]]
[[Category:Indian Premier League franchise owners]]