Tamil language
Tamil (, , , also written as ''Tamizhil'' according to linguistic pronunciation) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. It is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world,. "Tamil is one of ...
weekly
news magazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published magazine, radio, or television program, usually published weekly, consisting of articles about current events. News magazines generally discuss stories in greater depth than newspapers or new ...
. It has now expanded Digitally with an active Youtube Channel calle ''Thuglak Digital'' and a X(previously known as
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
Cho Ramaswamy
Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy (5 October 1934 – 7 December 2016), was an Indian actor, comedian, editor, political commentator, satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedi ...
founded the magazine and commenced its first publication on the first day of the
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
harvesting month "Thai" () based on the
Tamil calendar
The Tamil calendar (தமிழ் நாட்காட்டி) is a Sidereal time, sidereal solar calendar used by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It is also used in Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry, and by the Tamil ...
system (14 January 1970). He was the editor of the magazine until his death and has penned several columns.
The name of the magazine and its mascot draws from Muhammad bin Thuglak,
Sultan of Delhi
The Sultan of Delhi was the absolute monarch of the Delhi Sultanate which stretched over large parts of the Indian subcontinent during the period of medieval era, for 320 years (1206–1526). and later the 1971 movie ''
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq (; ; 1290 – 20 March 1351), or Muhammad II, also named Jauna Khan as Crown Prince, further known by his epithets, The Eccentric Prince, or The Mad Sultan, was the eighteenth Sultan of Delhi. He reigned from 4 February 1 ...
''. The plot is a socio-political satire, which narrates the scheme and success of a small band of idealists who take over the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
as the resurrected Muhammad bin Thuglak. The founder directed and plays the lead — in the movie and the play. It was conducted under the banner of Viveka Fine Arts Club.
After
Cho Ramaswamy
Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy (5 October 1934 – 7 December 2016), was an Indian actor, comedian, editor, political commentator, satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedi ...
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
The magazine features on its front cover a satirical cartoon, pertinent to an issue of current social and public interest.
The editor stopped publishing for two weeks, when a
state of emergency
A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
was declared in India. When the publication resumed after the first two weeks of emergency, the issue was published with a black front cover. ''Thuglak'' was the only magazine in India, whose advertisements were censored during this time.
There was only other instance, later in its history, when the magazine was published with a black front was after the Babri Masjid was brought down in 1992.
Pricing and subscription
The magazine is available through electronic access to readers outside of India via its website for a price of INR 900 or approximately US$20.
Thuglak Team
*Swamynathan (publisher)
*Udhaya (manager)
*Madhalai (senior sub editor)
*Sathya (sub editor), Brakath Ali (sub editor)
*Vasanthan Perumal (special correspondent)
*Ramachandran @ Durvaasar (sub editor)
*S.Ramesh (chief reporter)
*S.J.Idhaya (south reporter)
*S.P.Sanmugam (west reporter)
*P.J.Ramamoorthy (darmapuri reporter) ''Shri Venkateshwaran'' (Chief of Thuglak Digital)