Karunanidhi family's DMK Inc.

DMK Inc. 

Kalaingar Karunanidhi
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi's family has leveraged its political clout to build a formidable business empire.

• Four out Five people in Tamil Nadu watch this group's TV channel.
• It has just Produced the costliest film(Enthiran) ever made in Asia.
• The most of the successful movies made in the state this year came from its production houses.
• It recently acquired a national low cost airline (Spice Jet).
• No other political family in India that dabbled in business has managed to grow so big and dominate the businesses.
• Their businesses span in TV and Print media, FM radio, TV distribution, movie production and distribution, real estate and even Airlines.
• The Market capitalization of its listed firms alone exceeds Rs.22,600 Cr.
• Sun TV network runs 20 TV channels in four south Indian languages.
• Sun TV network reaches over 95 million households across India and is available in 27 countries.
• Sun TV has an enviable channel share of 69%  in Tamil Nadu, the others like Vijay TV has 7.6% and Jaya TV has 4.1% which is of rival All India Anna DMK
• In September 2010, Sun reported the operating margin  of 80.41%, even national players do not compare.
• Karunanidhi family owns Kalaingar TV, which broadcasts four channels in Tamil Nadu.
• Combined Kalaingar TV and Sun TV have 82% of the Tamil TV market.
• Karunanidhi family owned TV distribution named Sumangali Cable vision, a multi system operator has 90% of market in Tamil Nadu.
• SCV's monthly revenue is around 8.25 Cr.
• Sun DTH TV has 6.4 million subscriber base and Dishtv leads market with 9 million subscribers.
• In FM, the family has its strong presence. Sun TV runs 45 FM channels(Suryan FM and RED FM) across the country.
• Their family owned two daily Tamil newspapers( Thinakaran and Murasoli) have a circulation of over 1.3 million copies.
• The Tamil Film industry - Production and Distribution- is controlled by the larger Karunanidhi's family, Sun Pictures, Red gaint Movies, Cloud nine movies.
• Sun Pictures produced the blockbuster movie of Indian Superstar Rajini's "Enthiran" at a total cost of 160 Cr ( highest in Asia).
• Kalanithi maran's acquisition of SpiceJet earlier this year for over 750 Cr. marked the family's entry into Aviation.

The Family Businesses:

Karunandhi has been in politics for seven decades, The Family's tryst with business began two decades ago. The Family not only rules the state government  bt also the state's businesses too.There are many critics of the family, who acknowledge the business acumen of the members- especially of Kalanithi maran, He may have gained initially from political influence but one must admit that he is a good business man, who owns the maximum business of the state's entertainment industry.

"The Chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi's family not only rules the state government but also the businesses of the state too. no other politicians family in India can compared.(may be all over the world too)."