The family feud at the heart of one of South India’s biggest media networks has taken a fresh turn. On June 21, Sun TV Network responded to allegations made by DMK MP and former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran, who accused his elder brother Kalanithi Maran of “fraudulent practices” and “misgovernance” in taking control of Sun TV after the death of their father, Murasoli Maran, in 2003.
According to reports, Dayanidhi has sent a legal notice to Kalanithi and others involved, seeking to restore Sun TV’s shareholding pattern to how it stood before September 2003.
In a regulatory filing with the stock exchanges, Sun TV Network defended its promoter Kalanithi and dismissed the allegations as “incorrect, misleading, speculative, defamatory, and not supported by facts or law.”
The company stated that the division of ownership took place 22 years ago when Sun TV was still a private limited entity. “All acts have been done in accordance with legal obligations,” it said, adding that the shareholding agreements had been thoroughly vetted by intermediaries at the time of the company's public issue.
Sun TV sought to downplay any market concerns by stating that the reports of a rift “do not have any bearing on the business of the company or its day-to-day functioning.” The network said the issue is “purely personal in nature” and pertains only to the promoter family.
Kalanithi, who serves as executive director and chairperson of the board, holds 75% of Sun TV’s shareholding. His daughter Kavya Kalanithi Maran is also on the board. The remaining shares are divided between mutual funds, insurance firms (10.46%) and foreign portfolio investors (6.87%).
Founded in Chennai, Sun TV Network operates 37 television channels across seven languages, reaching over 140 million households in India. It also owns Sun Direct, a DTH platform, and runs 69 FM radio stations under the brands Suryan FM, RED FM and Magic FM.
Its print division publishes three daily newspapers and six magazines. The group also has its presence in cricket, owning both the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL franchise and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape team in South Africa’s T20 league.
In the financial year 2024–25, Sun TV’s consolidated income fell slightly by 1.55% to ₹4,712.60 crore. Profit after tax dropped 11.53% to ₹1,703.64 crore from ₹1,925.80 crore the previous year.
Though the company insists the internal rift is personal and historical, the public fallout may continue to draw attention, especially as the shareholding roots are revisited in legal circles.
