Vikatan Group

Vikatan Group is an Indian media conglomerate headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, whose best-known property is the Tamil-language weekly magazine Ananda Vikatan. The magazine began in February 1926 as a monthly publication founded by Pudhoor Vaidyanadha Iyer. After financial difficulties prevented publication of the December 1927 issue, S. S. Vasan acquired the publication rights from Iyer in January 1928 and relaunched it the following month in a redesigned format. Vasan subsequently developed Ananda Vikatan into a weekly and expanded its readership, establishing the foundation of the modern Vikatan publishing business. The group became associated with Tamil journalism, popular culture, serialized writing, political and social commentary, and consumer-oriented specialist publishing. Its portfolio grew beyond the flagship title to include magazines such as Aval Vikatan, Chutti Vikatan, Doctor Vikatan, Junior Vikatan, Motor Vikatan, Naanayam Vikatan, Pasumai Vikatan, Sakthi Vikatan, and TimePass. These titles address women’s interests, children’s content, health, investigative journalism, automobiles, personal finance, agriculture and lifestyle subjects. Junior Vikatan, launched in the 1980s, became particularly associated with Tamil investigative reporting. S. Balasubramanian, the son of S. S. Vasan, served for almost five decades as editor, managing director and publisher of Ananda Vikatan, until 2006. During his tenure he also introduced the Manavar Thittam student-journalism initiative, which provided a continuing connection between the publication and aspiring young journalists. After withdrawing from active management, Balasubramanian became chairman emeritus and the group’s leadership passed to his son, B. Srinivasan. Vikatan expanded from print into television, film, online publishing and digital video. Through Vikatan Televistas, the group produced Tamil television serials for Sun TV beginning in the late 1990s and later created programming in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada for channels within the Sun TV Network. During the COVID-19 period, the company ended its Sun TV relationship and pursued production opportunities with other broadcasters. From 2021 it produced programs for Star Vijay, and in 2023 it entered Kalaignar TV with Ranjithame. In 2024, Vikatan Televistas entered Hindi television through co-production of Udne Ki Aasha for StarPlus. The group also established Vikatan Talkies for film production, releasing Siva Manasula Sakthi and Vaalmiki in 2009. Its digital operations include online news, views, interviews and video, while Cinema Vikatan functions as a cinema-focused YouTube channel. The Ananda Vikatan Awards, held since 2008, further extend the brand’s role into recognition of achievement in Tamil cinema and related creative fields. Vikatan Group therefore operates as a diversified regional-language media house, with Ananda Vikatan remaining its central editorial and brand property.

Ananda Vikatan was established in February 1926 by Pudhoor Vaidyanadha Iyer as a Tamil monthly magazine. The publication encountered financial problems early in its life, and no issue was published in December 1927. In January 1928, S. S. Vasan acquired the rights to the title from Iyer and relaunched it in February with a new format. Vasan transformed the magazine into a weekly publication, after which its circulation and public profile grew substantially. The publication developed within the expanding Tamil print culture of the twentieth century. Its editorial identity combined news, commentary, humor, fiction, serialized writing and entertainment, allowing it to reach a broad Tamil-speaking audience. Under the Vasan family, the magazine became the nucleus of a wider publishing enterprise now known as Vikatan Group. S. Balasubramanian, S. S. Vasan’s son, held several senior roles at the magazine, including editor, managing director and publisher. He remained closely involved for nearly fifty years and continued in those positions until 2006. His tenure included the creation of Manavar Thittam, a student-journalism scheme that encouraged young people to develop reporting and writing skills. He also launched Junior Vikatan in the 1980s, adding an investigative-journalism title to the group’s growing portfolio. After retiring from active management, Balasubramanian became chairman emeritus, while his son B. Srinivasan assumed responsibility for the next phase of the group. Vikatan expanded its print portfolio with publications aimed at distinct audiences and interests. These included Aval Vikatan, Chutti Vikatan, Doctor Vikatan, Motor Vikatan, Naanayam Vikatan, Pasumai Vikatan, Sakthi Vikatan and TimePass. The range gave the group a presence in women’s publishing, children’s content, health, automobiles, finance, agriculture, spirituality and general lifestyle media. The business later diversified into television through Vikatan Televistas, which began producing Tamil serials for Sun TV in the late 1990s. Between 2008 and 2016, it also produced programming in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada for Gemini TV, Surya TV and Udaya TV. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the company withdrew from Sun TV and adopted a broader channel strategy. From 2021, it produced shows for Star Vijay, and in 2023 it began work for Kalaignar TV. In 2024, it entered Hindi-language television through the co-production of Udne Ki Aasha for StarPlus. The group’s diversification also included cinema. Vikatan Talkies released Siva Manasula Sakthi and Vaalmiki in 2009, after which Vikatan continued to participate in television and other forms of media content. Its digital activities include online articles, news clips, interviews, views and entertainment coverage. Cinema Vikatan extends this activity through a cinema-focused YouTube channel. Since 2008, the Ananda Vikatan Awards have provided an additional public platform connected with Tamil cinema and creative achievement. The group remains an active regional-language media organization centered on the Ananda Vikatan brand.

• 2024

  Entry into Hindi television

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Vikatan Televistas co-produces Udne Ki Aasha for StarPlus, marking its reported entry into Hindi television.

• 2023

  Debut on Kalaignar TV

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The production unit enters Kalaignar TV with Ranjithame.

• 2021

  Television partnership with Star Vijay

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Vikatan Televistas begins producing programs for Star Vijay, including Thamizhum Saraswatiyum and Siragadikka Aasai.

• 2009

  Vikatan enters film production

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Vikatan Talkies releases Siva Manasula Sakthi and Vaalmiki.

• 2008

  Ananda Vikatan Awards begin

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group establishes its awards ceremony recognizing work in Tamil cinema and related creative fields.

• 2006

  S. Balasubramanian retires from active management

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After nearly five decades in senior editorial and publishing roles, S. Balasubramanian steps back and becomes chairman emeritus.

• 1998

  Television production begins

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Vikatan Televistas enters television production with Tamil serials for Sun TV in the late 1990s.

• 1980

  Junior Vikatan is launched

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  S. Balasubramanian introduces Junior Vikatan as a Tamil investigative journal during the 1980s.

• 1928

  S. S. Vasan acquires and relaunches the magazine

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following financial difficulties, S. S. Vasan acquires the publication rights and relaunches Ananda Vikatan in a new format, later developing it into a weekly.

• 1926

  Ananda Vikatan is founded

  [1]Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Pudhoor Vaidyanadha Iyer launches Ananda Vikatan as a Tamil-language monthly publication.

A Tamil-language regional media house combining a long-running flagship weekly with specialist magazines, investigative journalism, television production, film, awards and digital content.

• Tamil weekly magazine · 1926

  Ananda Vikatan

  The flagship Vikatan publication began in 1926 as a monthly and was relaunched by S. S. Vasan in 1928. It later became a weekly magazine and developed a broad Tamil readership through a mixture of journalism, commentary, humor, fiction, serialized writing and entertainment coverage.

• Investigative magazine · 1980

  Junior Vikatan

  A Tamil investigative journal launched by S. Balasubramanian during the 1980s. It broadened the group’s editorial range beyond the flagship weekly and became one of its recognized journalism-oriented titles.

• Women's magazine

  Aval Vikatan

  A Vikatan magazine serving women readers as part of the group’s specialist publishing portfolio.

• Children's magazine

  Chutti Vikatan

  A Vikatan title focused on children’s publishing and youth-oriented content.

• Health magazine

  Doctor Vikatan

  A specialist publication centered on health-related information and medical topics.

• Automotive magazine

  Motor Vikatan

  A specialist automotive title covering motor vehicles and related interests.

• Personal finance magazine

  Naanayam Vikatan

  A Vikatan publication focused on money, personal finance and financial literacy.

• Agriculture and environment magazine

  Pasumai Vikatan

  A specialist title associated with agriculture, rural interests and environmentally oriented content.

• Spirituality magazine

  Sakthi Vikatan

  A Vikatan title addressing spirituality and devotional interests.

• Digital cinema channel

  Cinema Vikatan

  A cinema-focused YouTube channel carrying film-related coverage and extending the group’s entertainment journalism into digital video.

• Television production

  Vikatan Televistas

  The group’s television production arm, responsible for serials and other programs across Tamil and other Indian-language markets, including productions for Sun TV Network channels, Star Vijay, Kalaignar TV and StarPlus.

• Film production · 2009

  Vikatan Talkies

  The film-production label used for the group’s 2009 releases Siva Manasula Sakthi and Vaalmiki.

• 2024

  Expansion into Hindi televisionProduct launch

  Background

  Vikatan Televistas had previously concentrated much of its television activity on Tamil and selected South Indian-language programming.

  Action taken

  The company co-produced Udne Ki Aasha for StarPlus.

  Aftermath

  The project represented an expansion of the group’s television production activity into the Hindi-language market.

  Source

• 2020

  Change in television distribution strategyStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic period brought a change in the group’s television production arrangements.

  Action taken

  Vikatan Televistas withdrew from Sun TV and pursued opportunities with other television channels.

  Aftermath

  The production arm subsequently worked with Star Vijay, Kalaignar TV and, later, StarPlus.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition from S. Balasubramanian to B. SrinivasanOther

  Background

  S. Balasubramanian ended nearly five decades of active editorial and management involvement.

  Action taken

  Balasubramanian moved into the role of chairman emeritus, and his son B. Srinivasan took over the group’s leadership.

  Aftermath

  The transition continued the family-led management of Vikatan Group while the business diversified into television and digital media.

  Source

• 1928

  Relaunch and conversion of Ananda Vikatan into a weeklyStrategy

  Background

  The original monthly publication faced financial difficulties and missed its December 1927 issue.

  Action taken

  S. S. Vasan acquired the publication rights, relaunched the magazine in February 1928 and developed it into a weekly format.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch established the commercial and editorial base from which the Vikatan publishing group expanded.

  Source

1. 1Vikatan Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Vikatan official websitevikatan.com