Karunanidhi family
Updated: 12/10/2025, 8:55:55 PM Wikipedia source
The Karunanidhi family is an Indian political family that has had considerable influence on the politics and cinema of Tamil Nadu. The most notable member of the family was M. Karunanidhi, who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms and was the leader of the DMK party from 1969 to 2018. Karunanidhi's grandnephew, Dayanidhi Maran, has served as a Union Cabinet Minister for two terms—once as the Minister of Information and Technology and once as the Minister of Textiles. One of Karunanidhi's sons, M. K. Stalin, is the 7th and current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He has been elected as a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly five times and has also served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Another son, M. K. Alagiri, was the Minister of Chemicals in the Union Cabinet and also the DMK’s coordinator for South Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi, is a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. His grandnephew, Kalanidhi Maran, is the owner of Sun Network—the second-largest television network in India—as well as Sun Pictures, a Tamil film production company. The fourth generation of the family, including Arivunithi, Dayanidhi Azhagiri, Udhayanidhi Stalin (a Member of the Legislative Assembly), and Arulnithi, are active in the Tamil film industry. The significant presence of Karunanidhi's family members in both the Union and State governments has led to frequent accusations of political nepotism. Two members of the family, Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran, were charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for their alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum case. However, the CBI failed to prove the charges, and the Delhi High Court acquitted both. The fourth generation of the family has also faced criticism for allegedly using political influence to gain advantages in the Tamil film industry.
Infobox
Tables
| Family Member | Governance post | Years |
| M. Karunanidhi | DMK Party Leader | 1969–2018 |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 1957–2018 | |
| Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | 1969-1976, 1989–1991, 1996–2001, 2006–2011 | |
| Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 1977-1983 | |
| M. K. Stalin | DMK Party Leader | 2018– Present |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | 2009–2011 | |
| President of Youth Wing, DMK | 1982–2017 | |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 1989–1991, 1996–present | |
| Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 2016–2021 | |
| Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | 2021–present | |
| Dayanidhi Maran | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | 2004–2014, 2019–present |
| Minister of Communications and Information Technology | 2004-2007 | |
| M. K. Alagiri | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | 2009–2014 |
| Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers | 2009-2013 | |
| Kanimozhi Karunanidhi | ||
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | 2007-2019 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | 2019–present | |
| Deputy General Secretary of the DMK | October 2022 – Present | |
| Udhayanidhi Stalin | Youth Wing Secretary of DMK | 2019–present |
| Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 2021–present | |
| Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development | December 2022 – Present | |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | September 2024 – Present |
| Organization | Family Member | Post | Years | Notes |
| Kalaignar TV | Dayalu Ammal | Owner | 2008–present | 60% share holder |
| Kanimozhi Karunanidhi | Owner | 2008–present | 20% share holder | |
| Westgate Logistics Private Ltd | Rajathe Ammal & Kanimozhi Karunanidhi | Owner | 2004–present | Supporting and auxiliary transport activities; activities of travel agencies |
| Sun Group | Kalanithi Maran | Chairman and MD | 1993–present | Group of Kal Media Services Pvt. Ltd. 32 TV Channels across Indian languages 45 Radio stations across all India 2 daily newspapers in Tamil language 4 weekly magazines in Tamil language Sun Pictures - a leading film production and distribution company Sun Direct - one of India's leading DTH companies, also first to carry HD channels in India Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) - Multi System Operators (MSO) Sun 18 south - to distribute its channels Kal Airways Pvt. Ltd. Spicejet Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL(Indian premier league)Cricket Team |
| Cloud Nine Movies | Dayanidhi Azhagiri | Owner | 2008–present | Tamil film production and distribution company |
| Red Giant Movies | Udhayanidhi Stalin | Owner | 2008–present | Tamil film production and distribution company |
| Mohana Movies | M. K. Tamilarasu | Owner | 2008–present | Tamil film production company |
| Daya Cyber Park Private Limited, Madurai | Alagiri Family | Owner | 2006–present | Cyber Park |
| Inbox 1305 | Kiruthiga Udhayanithi | Owner, Editor | 2008–present | The Week Magazine |
| Nefertari | Anusha Dayanidhi | Owner | 2012–present | Event Management Company |
| Tamil Mayyam | Kanimozhi Karunanidhi | Director | Non-governmental Organization |
| Family Member | Assets Worth (in INR) | As on Date | Notes |
| Stalin and Durga | 2.2 Cr | 22 March 2011 | lakh worth of movable property which includes fixed deposit, joint account with wife and life insurance. The approximate value of their immovable property based on market value was Rs 169.3 lakh. |
| Karunanidhi, Dayalu and Rajathi | 41.13 Cr | 24 March 2011 | Karunanidhi has moveable assets of around Rs. 4.93 crore, Rs. 15.34 crore for his first wife, Dayalu and Rs. 20.83 crore for his second wife Rajathi. Karunanidhi has an income of Rs. 37 lakh per annum Rs. 64 lakhs for Dayalu and 1.67 Cr for Rajathi. |
| M K Azhagiri, Kanthi Azhagiri | 133.65 Cr | 6 August 2011 | Azhagiri owns 18 acres and 63 cents of agricultural land, 1 acre and 82 cents plus 23,278 sq ft non-agricultural land, a 20 cent plot, flats in Chennai and Madurai, 4 crore in fixed deposit and 1.39 crore in his savings account. |
| Kanimozhi | 8.45 Cr | 4 June 2007 | She owns fixed deposits worth Rs 6.58 crores, a commercial building in Anna Salai worth Rs 1.61 crores, shares worth Rs 3.5 lakh in a company called Westgate Logistics, gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 3.61 lakh and a car, Toyota Camry worth Rs 18.7 lakh. |
| Dayanidhi Maran | 2.94 Cr | 3 September 2011 | He and his wife have shares in RIL, Reliance Communications, RNRL and DK Enterprises |
References
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