How a small-town weekly became one of the world's most circulated daily newspapers.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1888 with a single London-made press, Malayala Manorama transformed from a local Kerala weekly into a global media powerhouse. By embracing professional management, international printing technology, and aggressive expansion, it evolved from a modest operation into the second-largest circulating newspaper in India today.

The story of Malayala Manorama began in Kottayam, Kerala, where Kandathil Varghese Mappillai incorporated the company on March 14, 1888. Initially funded by one hundred shares of 100 rupees each, the paper launched its first issue on March 22, 1890. For decades, it operated as a weekly, then a bi-weekly and tri-weekly, before finally becoming a daily in 1928. The paper faced significant political turbulence in 1938 when the Travancore state proscribed it, leading to the imprisonment of editor K. C. Mammen Mappillai. Publication only resumed in 1947 following Indian independence.

The modern era of the newspaper was defined by K. M. Mathew, who took charge in 1973. Recognizing that the industry was at a critical juncture, Mathew initiated a radical modernization program. He hired consultants, restructured the organization in 1980, and sent staff to training schools worldwide to adopt international journalism standards. This professionalization included the concept of 'editionalising,' which prioritized local news and reader-friendly page design. These changes were essential for survival, as the paper faced intense competition from its rival, Mathrubhumi, throughout the mid-20th century.

Technological adoption was equally vital to this growth. To compete with Mathrubhumi, Manorama invested in offset printing and established a teleprinter link to New Delhi in 1965. By the late 1990s, the paper had expanded its reach significantly, launching units in the Middle East to serve the Malayali diaspora. Today, the company remains a private LLC owned by the Kandathil family. While it has achieved immense commercial success, it has also faced scrutiny, notably for its role in the coverage of the 1994 ISRO espionage case, for which the Supreme Court of India later cleared scientist Nambi Narayanan of wrongdoing.

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