India Today @50: e4m Film Chronicles Aroon Purie’s Legacy
The film presents its early years as the foundation of a newsroom culture built on accuracy, editing and asking difficult questions
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Published: Oct 30, 2026 4:52 PM | 2 min read
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- India Today celebrates its 50th anniversary with a documentary detailing its origins during the Emergency in 1975 and its evolution into a major media group across television and digital platforms.
- The film highlights founder Aroon Purie's influence on the editorial culture, emphasizing accuracy, rigorous editing, and the importance of challenging questions in journalism.
- Key milestones include the launch of Aaj Tak as a 10-minute bulletin in 1995, its transformation into a 24-hour news channel in 2000, and the establishment of the India Today Conclave in 2002.
- The documentary notes the group's significant growth, with a peak readership of five million and a current combined reach of 750 million, while also reflecting on the challenges faced by Purie over the past five decades.
As India Today marks 50 years, a film on the journey of the media group traces its beginnings during the Emergency, its expansion across television and digital platforms, and the role of founder Aroon Purie in shaping its editorial culture.
Launched in 1975, when press censorship was in force, India Today began as a small magazine focused on reporting and explaining current affairs. The film presents its early years as the foundation of a newsroom culture built on accuracy, editing and asking difficult questions.
“For me, good journalism is the truth well told,” Purie says in the film.
The documentary follows the group’s expansion beyond print, including the launch of Aaj Tak as a 10-minute news bulletin on Doordarshan in 1995. In 2000, Aaj Tak became a 24-hour news channel, marking a significant step in India Today’s move into television.
The film also points to the launch of the India Today Conclave in 2002, which brought together leaders and public figures to discuss issues shaping the country and the world.
Reflecting on the group’s growth, Purie says the magazine had a readership of five million at its peak. The film states that the group’s combined reach across viewers, readers, followers, fans and subscribers now spans 750 million.
Alongside its account of expansion, the film highlights Purie’s attention to detail and the emphasis placed on mentoring journalists. It describes “purification”, a term derived from his surname, as part of the group’s editorial process.
Purie also reflects on the challenges of building the organisation over five decades. “For 50 years, I’ve lived through failures, false starts, and occasional successes,” he says.
The film closes with a reaffirmation of the group’s stated commitment to asking difficult questions, holding power to account and serving the people of India.
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