Celebrating its Silver Jubilee, Manorama Online, which started as an online version of the largest circulated vernacular newspaper in India, is expanding into new digital territories while maintaining its credibility and high standards.
In 1997, Prince Philip of Britain officially launched Manorama Online and its English version began in 1998. In 2002, it was updated to include entertainment content in addition to news. Over time, it has evolved into a multi-media platform, accessible on computers, mobile phones, tablets, and smartphones, with the launch of a mobile app. The website now offers news and entertainment at the convenience of its readers.
Manorama Online was ahead of its time by utilizing the capabilities of mobile phones before the era of smartphones. The company partnered with Nokia, a leading mobile phone manufacturer at the time, to make its services available on their phones.
Manorama Online offered features such as listening to interviews, cricket scores, astrology, and movie reviews through their Interactive Voice Recorder (IVR) service and also allowed for downloading ringtones. The company was the first Malayalam news portal to offer podcasting and also had services such as “My Manorama” for sharing news and photos, “Manorama Mail” for emailing and chatting, and animated videos and games for children. Additionally, they introduced a “Learn Malayalam” program and an e-commerce platform called “Manorama Online E-mart.” They also established kiosks in airports to showcase their offerings.
Today, Manorama Online has expanded beyond just a news website and covers a wide range of subjects including cinema, music, technology, travel, health, astrology, and more. They also have a page for the local community, a section for the global Malayali community, and regularly feature video interviews, podcasts, and columns by prominent individuals. They also offer niche services such as a matrimonial site, an education-career site, a health services site, and a real estate site.
As part of their social responsibility, they host events such as the “Techspectations” digital summit, “Chuttuvattom award,” “Zero Waste,” and more. Over the past 25 years, Manorama Online has won numerous national and international awards, including the WAN-IFRA’s Global Gold Shield and South Asian Digital Media award. The company operates with the motto “Dharmosmat Kuladaivatam” or “Charity, Our Household Divinity.”
