IF IT’S TAMIL NADU,
IT’S VIKATAN.

A Flame That Refused to Bow. A Voice That Could Not Be Silenced.

Vikatan didn’t begin as a magazine.
It began as a movement.

In 1926, when Tamil journalism was still fragile, Vikatan emerged with a promise to speak truth with courage, humour, and humanity.

By 1931, that promise was tested.
Fines. Pressure. Attempts to silence its voice.
But Vikatan stood firm.

Not a page was bent.
Not a word was withdrawn.
Not a principle was sold.

In that defiant stand, Tamil Nadu discovered something rare. A publication with a backbone.

For the next decades, Vikatan became a cultural companion, chronicling a young nation, challenging archaic thinking, igniting conversations, and shaping a fearless storytelling tradition that endures even today.

When Journalism Became Public Service

This was the era when Vikatan became the moral compass of Tamil society.

It nurtured some of the greatest literary minds of our time  Kalki, Sujatha, Balakumaran, S. Ramakrishnan, and many more.

Serialized novels became households’ weekly rituals.
Thought-provoking essays shaped opinions and values.
Vikatan built the foundation of modern Tamil reading culture.

And then came two historic decisions:

1979 – The Anti-Smoking Stand

Vikatan banned cigarette ads - sacrificing revenue to protect readers.

1981 – The Anti-Alcohol Stand

It refused liquor ads and used its space to create awareness.

These weren’t editorial choices.
They were ethical commitments.
Families didn’t just read Vikatan they trusted Vikatan.

Fearless Journalism. Fearless Journalists.

This was a decade when Vikatan became a crucible of courage.

1984 – The Vikatan Student Journalist Scheme

A revolutionary training pipeline was born producing 1,750+ journalists, many of whom became IAS/IPS officers, filmmakers, diplomats, scholars, and media leaders.

Vikatan didn’t just find talent. We created it.

1987 – Jailed for a Joke, Freed by a Movement

A humorous wrapper led to the arrest of a Vikatan editor. Tamil Nadu erupted. Voices united. The High Court upheld the right to free expression and ordered compensation.

Vikatan’s message resounded:We bend to no power. We exist for the people, with the people. This era defined a fearless ethos, proving that journalism could entertain, challenge, and protect democracy. Courage wasn’t a choice. It was the lifeblood of Vikatan.

When Journalism Made History

1991 – The Lens That Captured a Nation’s Tragedy

During the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Vikatan’s photographer captured the most definitive and circulated image of the tragedy. One moment that became historical evidence.

The Fight Against Female Infanticide

Vikatan’s relentless investigation into the practice in Madurai pushed a silent social crime into the national spotlight forcing action, policy attention, and public awakening.
This wasn’t journalism for headlines.
This was journalism for humanity.

Every report, every image, every story carried responsibility.
Impact became Vikatan’s signature.
It reminded readers that words and pictures could provoke change, ignite conscience, and mobilize society.
In this decade, journalism became both a mirror and a hammer—reflecting truth, shaping progress, and leaving an indelible mark on Tamil Nadu’s conscience.

Platforms That Uplifted, Connected & Modernised Tamil Nadu

As the world entered the digital age, Vikatan reinvented itself yet again moving from print legacy to multimedia power.

Milestones That Defined This Era

• Launch of Vikatan.com bringing 90+ years of trust into a digital-first world.
• Expansion into investigative journalism, infotainment, political analysis, and cross-platform storytelling.

Innovation That Set New Standards

• Digital-only articles, subscription-based e-magazines, pioneering paid content in regional media.
• VikatanTV on YouTube brought interviews, explainers, satire, creative shows, and real-time storytelling to millions.
• Interactive communities formed, readers engaged, voices amplified.

From weekly print to a 24x7 digital universe, Vikatan blended tradition with technology.  Fearless, principled, Tamil at heart, it created a model for regional media in the 21st century.

When a Media House Became a Movement

Cyclone Thane Relief – Turning Art Into Action

After the devastation in Cuddalore, Vikatan united artists and readers.
Funds raised helped farmers clear uprooted trees and rebuild their lives.

The 40-Year Talent Commitment Lives On

The Student Journalist Scheme continues to nurture future storytellers India’s most enduring media talent pipeline.

Digital, Data, Multimedia With an Unchanging Soul

OTT content, mobile apps, live streams, podcasts, YouTube shorts, Instagram reels Vikatan embraced every modern format with the same old courage.

Today, it stands as the #1 Most Read & Most Engaged Tamil News Platform with 400 Million Video Views Every Month.

But one thing remained unchanged:

With the people.
For the people.
Always fearless.
Always accountable.
Always Tamil.