KAVIYA KALANITHI MARAN literally grew up in Sun TV’s office in Chennai — amid business, politics, and dinner table conversations centred on strategy and marketing.

“It was a very natural transition for me into the world of business. Also, my own strengths and interests align more with the media and entertainment industry. So, for me, it was always a perfect fit,” says Kaviya.

Her mandate at Sun was clear — to act as the bridge between tradition and transformation. Her first project was overseeing the launch of OTT platform Sun NXT in 2017.

“Be it tech innovations or analytics-driven decisions, I was very closely involved in building our digital ecosystem to ensure we weren’t targeting just our core audience, but a more younger, digital-first audience,” says Kaviya.

Having shaped the platform — from content strategy to tech partnerships to user experience — the project is something she holds close to her heart. She has been a director on the board of Sun TV Network since 2019.

Her association with Sunrisers started right out of college.

“The whole household was obsessed with cricket. My mother, grandfather… it was part and parcel of life growing up,” says Kaviya.

“My involvement started organically — the launch of the logo, the jersey, the marketing strategy — and over time, it became more than just a business for me,” she adds.

“When it comes to Sunrisers, I wear my heart on my sleeve. When you put your heart and soul into something, you tend to get very personally attached to its success and failures.”

She is also a fitness enthusiast, though much of her exercise regime is to balance out her sweet tooth!