1 KING MARAN

Kalanithi Maran Executive Chairman, Sun TV Network.

` 77.9 crore (2016/17) ` 71.5 crore (2015/16) KALANITHI MARAN'S annual remuneration at ` 77.9 crore may seem a whopping amount but the fixed component (` 13.14 crore), like most business leaders, is a small fraction of that number. The variable component added up to a hefty ` 64.79 crore (ex-gratia/ bonus) in 2016/17.

Under Maran, Sun TV Network has posted robust earnings in recent years. It clocked a total income of ` 3,002.10 crore in the year ended March 31, 2018, a rise of 11 per cent over the previous fiscal. The company’s bottom line expanded 11.6 per cent to ` 1093 crore in the same period. Sun takes pride in being “one of the largest television broadcasters in India operating satellite television channels in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam and FM radio stations across India.” Maran is focused on creating a lean cost structure for his network and shut down his loss-making Kannada news channel in 2017. He is also on the prowl for new opportunities and recently launched a Malayalam comedy channel, Surya Comedy.

Maran’s 75 per cent stake entitles him to a massive dividend. A ` 10 dividend in 2016/17 translated into ` 295 crore for the 29.55 crore shares.