Sun TV Family Feud, How Power, Politics, Money Split Dayanidhi And Kalanithi's Rs. 24,356 Cr Empire

Sun TV Network Limited is one of the biggest Indian media companies. Founded in April 1993 by Kalanithi Maran, the network owns several television channels and radio stations in a spectrum of languages. Sun TV is a television channel owned by the network and predominantly focuses on promoting Tamil-language content. 

Ran by the Maran family, the media network became the reason behind a feud between the Maran brothers, Kalanithi and Dayanidhi Maran. While one became the face of a South Indian television network, the other felt betrayed by his brother and how he now reacted to the same by filing a lawsuit against his own blood. So, as Kalanithi and Dayanandi engage in a legal battle, let's take a look at how the divide between the two started.

The origin of Sun TV

The Sun TV began after Kalanithi Maran was left intrigued by television networks in the United States. The chairman of the Sun Group was pursuing his MBA from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, when the number of TV channels left him fascinated. At the time, Indian TV was entirely controlled by Doordarshan. So, with a determination to change that, he started Sun TV Network in 1993. With the political influence and business backing from the influential Maran-Karunanidhi family, Sun TV came into existence. The network initially appeared to be a family-driven venture, with Kalanithi and his younger brother, Dayanidhi, playing pivotal roles in the business.

The growth of Sun TV Network and the influence of Kalanithi Maran

The Sun TV started off with a four-and-a-half-hour programming run per day with a time-sharing agreement with ATN (Asian Television Network). The Maran brothers rejected a proposal for an afternoon slot by Zee TV and ran with ATN for a few years. In 1995, they signed an agreement with ST Teleport in Singapore to provide uplinks. By 1997, Sun TV had started its 24-hour broadcasts. In the early 2000s, Dayanidhi Maran's political clout in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and later as a Union Telecom Minister under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) proved to be extremely beneficial to the network.

Dayanidhi Maran's influence, combined with Kalanithi Maran's corporate leadership, worked wonders for the Sun TV network. The synergy of their expertise helped the network climb the ladder of success, and by 2009, they were present in one-third of the Indian households with TV sets, in and around Tamil Nadu. Sun TV was listed on the stock exchange in 2006 and raised over 133 million US dollars. 

The 2003 share allotment that left a crack between the Maran brothers

Everything was going well for Sun TV and the Maran brothers, Dayanidhi and Kalanithi, when an urge for power and money ruined their bond. Kalanithi divided the shares of the Sun TV Network in 2003. According to Dayanidhi, his brother diluted Dayanidhi's stake in the company and saved his own. He further claimed that his brother took near-total control of sixty per cent of the shares, which were valued at around Rs. 3,500 crore for just Rs. 1.2 crore, without any notice or approval from other existing shareholders. 

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The following years followed a dark period for the Maran brothers, as in 2007, Dayanidhi was forced to resign from his position at the Union Cabinet amid internal DMK conflicts. This is said to have been widely influenced by the Maran family's media clout. Dayanidhi's loss blended with Kalanithi's betrayal, marked the beginning of their professional and personal distancing.

Almost a decade-long silence was followed by the legal storm 

While Dayanidhi and Kalanithi Maran tried their best to put a united front in public appearances. Their distance was clearly visible for the past decade. Kalanithi remained focused on his business ventures, including the SpiceJet airlines, while Dayanidhi, on the other hand, remained active in Tamil Nadu's politics. The duo tried their best to keep their tension at bay, but their family collaboration had ended with the stock division of 2003.

Dayanidhi maintained his silence till 2025; however, something changed his mind that year, and he sent a legal notice to Kalanithi, accusing him of wronging him with the stock division of Sun TV. He accused his brother of 'fraudulently gaining control' of Sun TV and demanded that the original ownership structure be restored. Additionally, he claimed that Kalanithi misled their family, recalling what happened in 2003 as a betrayal. 

Sun TV responded to the legal notice as Kalanithi Maran attempts to do damage control

Following the serious claims by Dayanidhi Maran, Sun TV issued a formal statement on Kalanithi Maran's behalf. The network denied any and all internal disputes, calling the media reports 'unfounded'. However, the very existence of the legal notice from Dayanidhi to Kalanithi is proof of the storm despite the company's attempt to project stability. The legal battle between the two brothers can trigger a major legal battle over one of India's most valuable companies.

As Kalanithi Maran and Dayanidhi Maran try to process the legal battle tied to familial strains, which could reshape not just the ownership but the future of Sun TV and the political system in Tamil Nadu, let us know what your thoughts are on the feud between the brothers. 

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