In keeping with his global vision, the next flight for Maran would be to Lisbon, where he will vie, with other young entrepreneurs around the world, for the coveted World Young Business Award to be announced on April 24.

The World Young Business Achiever Award is organised by New York-based Worldcom Group Inc, a consortium of independently owned public relations counselling firms. All Worldcom partners participating in this programme choose the best business achiever under 40 in their respective countries.

Sista's Worldcom, the corporate communication division of Sista's Private Limited has been conducting the event in India under the `India Young Business Award' for the past four years.

Prior to Maran, other first generation businessmen, including Microland Ltd chairman PradeepKar, Sanskrut Comfort Systems Ltd chairman Achal Bakeri and Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd managing director K Raghavendra Rao have represented India in the World finals.

Using his family publication business as a launch pad, Maran went on to pioneer the first vernacular video news magazine Poomalai in 1990. This 33-year old son of political heavyweight Murosoli Maran started the country's first regional language satellite channel, Sun TV, in 1993.

Starting with Tamil, the network has grown to include television channels in other South Indian languages as well. Besides being among the premier channels in South-East Asia, Sun TV is also the first Indian television channel to have been uplinked worldwide.

``The criteria for judging include key parameters like remarkable merit of achievement, outstanding business strategy, impact of management and personal philosophy, social awareness and responsibility, innovativeness and creativity, communication skills and global skills,'' said business tycoonHarsh Goenka, part of this year's panel of judges. The panel also included Keshub Mahindra, Simone Tata, Tarjani Vakil and Vivek Goenka among others.