Kalanithi Maran and wife Kaveri Kalanithi, promoters of Sun TV, have seen their remuneration fall for the first time in recent years. The company's profit came under pressure in 2011-12 and the Marans took home a package of Rs.114 crore (Rs.57 crore each), down by 11% from last year.

In 2006-07, the combined salary of the couple was Rs.46.5 crore.

Interestingly, the decline in the compensation of the promoters is in line with the fall in the company's net profit for the year. Sun's net profit for 2011-12 fell 10.62% to Rs.694.65 crore.

In April, the Chennai-based media conglomerate saw a change of guard, and the board of directors elevated Kalanithi Maran to executive chairman. K. Vijay Kumar, 47, who was CEO, was also made managing director of the company.

Sun TV Network's annual report said the salary and perks paid to the executive chairman (formerly chairman and managing director) was Rs.57 crore. Kaveri Kalanithi, the executive director (formerly joint managing director) took home a similar package.

"The remuneration of both promoter directors has fallen as the profitability of Sun TV Network was hit by state-run Arasu Cable and did not have a blockbuster movie release like Enthiran for the financial year ended March 2012," said a Mumbai-based analyst who tracks the company but did not want to be named.

His reference is to the state government's launch of a cable distribution company to break the monopoly of Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), the cable arm of Sun TV. Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa is the head of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam while the Marans have traditionally owed their allegiance to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Kalanithi Maran's father, the late Murasoli Maran, a former union minister, was DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi's nephew. Kalanithi Maran's brother Dayanidhi Maran is a DMK member of parliament and a former union minister who resigned in the wake of a controversy regarding a quid-pro-quo between Malaysia's Maxis and Sun TV in return for facilitating the former's acquisition of Aircel.

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