List of people from Kerala

The following is a list of notable people from Kerala, India. The names are classified according to the person's major area of work. For more details please see their respective articles.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Ancient rulers and kings
H H Rama Varma XV
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma

Early Cheras

The Cheras are referred to as Kedalaputo (Sanskrit: "Kerala Putra") in the Emperor Ashoka's Pali edicts (3rd century BCE).[1] The earliest Graeco-Roman accounts referring to the Cheras are by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century CE, in the Periplus of the 1st century CE, and by Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE. Greeks and Romans are called "Yavanas" in early Indian literature.

  • Uthiyan Cheralathan – earliest known ruler of the Chera family who was also known as "Vanavaramban" Cheral Athan. He is sometimes identified with the Chera ruler who prepared food for the warring cousins at Kurukshetra War in the epic Mahabharata (Akananuru).
  • Nedum Cheralathan – Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan, son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan, is the hero of the second decade of Pathitrupathu which was composed by the poet Kaveri Poompattanatthu Kaari Kannanar. The greatest of his enemies were the Kadambas whom he defeated in battles. He also attacked Yavana ships and held Yavana traders ransom.
  • Palyani Sel Kelu Kuttuvan – son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan. Credited as the conqueror of Kongu.[2]
  • Kalankakkanni Narmudi Cheral – led an expedition against the Adigaiman Anji of Tagadur. Initially defeated by Nannan of Ezhimala in the battle of Pazhi, later defeated and killed Nannan in the battle of Vakai Perum Turai.[2]
  • Senguttuvan – identified with "Kadal Pirakottiya" Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan, son of Nedum Cheral Athan, celebrated by the poet Paranar in the 5th decade, ascended to the Chera throne after the death of his father. Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan is often identified with the legendary "Chenguttuvan Chera", the most illustrious ruler of the Early Cheras. Under his reign, the Chera territory extended from Kollimalai (near Karur Vanchi) in the east to Thondi and Mantai (Kerala) on the western coast.[2]
  • Adu Kottu Cheral Athan – successor of Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan
  • Selva Kadumko Valia Athan – son of Anthuvan Cheral and the hero of the 7th set of poems composed by Kapilar. He defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas and the Cholas. He is sometimes identified as the Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai mentioned in the Aranattar-malai inscription of Pugalur (c. 2nd century CE).
  • Perum Cheral Irumporai – "Tagadur Erinta" defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas, Cholas and that of the chief of Tagadur. He captured Tagadur which was ruled by the powerful ruler Adigaman Ezhni. He is also called "the lord of Puzhinadu" and "the lord of Kollimalai" and "the lord of [Poom]Puhar". Puhar was the Chola headquarters. Perum Cheral Irumporai also annexed the territories of a minor chief called Kaluval.
  • Illam Cheral Irumporai – defeated the Pandyas and the Cholas and brought immense wealth to his base Vanchi.
  • Yanaikatchai Mantaran Cheral Irumporai – ruled from Kollimalai (near Karur Vanchi) in the east to Thondi and Mantai on the western coast. He defeated his enemies in a battle at Vilamkil.
  • Kanaikkal Irumporai – said to have defeated a chief called Muvan and imprisoned in him. The Chera then brutally pulled out the teeth of the prisoner and planted them on the gates of the city of Thondi. Upon capture by the Chola ruler Sengannan Kanaikkal committed suicide by starvation.

Kodungallur Cheras / Kulasekharas (Medieval Cheras)
  • Kulashekhara Varma (c. 800–c.820 CE)[3]
  • Rajashekhara (c. 820–844 CE)[3]
  • Sthanu Ravi Varma (844–c. 885 CE)[3]
  • Rama Varma (c. 885–917 CE)[3]
  • Kota Ravi Varma (917–947 CE)[3]
  • Indu Kota Varma (944–962 CE)[3]
  • Bhaskara Ravi Varma I (962–1019 CE)[3]
  • Bhaskara Ravi Varma II (979–1021 CE)[3]
  • Vira Kerala (1021–c. 1028 CE)[3]
  • Rajasimha (c. 1028–c.1043 CE)[3]
  • Bhaskara Ravi Varma III (c. 1043–c.1082 CE)[3]
  • Ravi Rama Varma (c. 1082–1090 CE)[3]

Venad Swaroopam (Later Cheras)

Rulers of Venad trace their origin to the Vel family related to the Ay chiefs of the ancient southern India (c. 1st - 4th century AD). Venad - ruled by hereditary chiefs, acting with the help of a military entourage - emerged as a chiefdom in the state of the Cheras of Kodungallur in c. 8th century.

  • Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1090–1102) – mentioned in Rameswarathukoil Inscription as the founder of Venad as an independent state
  • Kotha Varma Marthandam, Keezhperoor (1102–1125) – conquered Kottar and Nanjanad from the Pandya Dynasty
  • Vira Kerala Varma I, Keezhperoor (1125–1145) – great religious benefactor, responsible for the rebuilding of Padmanabhaswamy and the endowment of Suchindram Temples
  • Kodai Kerala Varma, Keezhperoor (1145–1150)
  • Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1161–1164)
  • Vira Kerala Varma II, Keezhperoor (1164–1167)
  • Vira Aditya Varma, Keezhperoor (1167–1173)
  • Vira Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1173–1192) – established his seat at Kulikkod and allied himself to the Pandya kings
  • Devadaram Vira Kerala Varma III, Keezhperoor (1192–1195)
  • Vira Manikantha Rama Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1195– ?)
  • Vira Rama Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1209–1214)
  • Vira Ravi Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1214–1240)
  • Vira Padmanabha Martanda Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1240–1252) – the Pandya kings asserted their dominance over Venad during his reign
  • Jayasimha Deva, Keezhperoor (1266–1267) – succeeded in bringing the whole of present-day Kerala under his control. He established his seat at Kollam, the surrounding areas becoming known as Jayasimhanad (Desinganad). His wife Rani Umma Devi was probably a joint ruler with her husband. He died leaving several sons who quarrelled with his nephews over the succession, causing a long and disruptive civil war.
  • Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1299–1313)
  • Vira Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1313–1333)
  • Aditya Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1333–1335)
  • Vira Rama Udaya Martanda Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1335–1342)
  • Vira Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1342–1363)
  • Vira Martanda Varma III, Keezhperoor (1363–1366)
  • Vira Rama Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1366–1382)
  • Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1383–1416)
  • Vira Ravi Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1416–1417)
  • Vira Kerala Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1383)
  • Chera Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1383–1444)
  • Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1444–1458)
  • Sankhara Sri Vira Rama Martanda Varma (1458–1468)
  • Vira Kodai Sri Aditya Varma (1468–1484) – established his capital at Kallidaikurichi
  • Vira Ravi Ravi Varma (1484–1503) – established his capital at Padmanabhapuram
  • Martanda Varma, Kulasekhara Perumal (1503–1504)
  • Vira Ravi Kerala Varma, Kulasekhara Perumal (1504–1528) – succeeded as Trippappur Mutta Tiruvadi

Mushika Kingdom (Ezhimalai)

The Mushika kingdom was a kingdom in the early historic south India in present-day Kerala, India, ruled by a royal dynasty of the same name. Its dominions, for most of its recorded history, covered the present-day regions of northern Kerala, Tulunadu and Coorg (southern Karnataka), between the western slopes of the Western Ghats in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west.

  • Nannan I - He married the daughter of the Chera King Perunchorruthiyan sometime around the 3rd Century BCE. Sangam texts as well as several versions of the Mahabharata cite a Chera king by the same name to have fed the rival armies in the Great War. Under Nannan, an able military commander also, Mushika kingdom transformed into a force in South India, and stretched into Wynad and Gudalur Districts in the foothills of the Western Ghats, and the northern parts of present-day Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Eager to expand his kingdom, Nannan waged war against the Cheras, and successfully defeated the Chera commanders at the Battle of Pazhi.
  • Isanavarman – married a Chedi princess Nandini. He also married the daughter of the then Chola King. Their son Nrpurama was the next king.
  • Virochana – defeated the Pallavas, and married Harini, the daughter of the Pallava King.
  • Kandan Kari Varman – (The Mushika king who lived in the Eleventh Century CE) is referred to as a close relative of the Ay-Chera King Vira Kerala. Several inscriptions exist in both the Kasargod-Kannur area (in Eramam) and in the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari area, throwing light on the synchronism between Rajendra Chola, Chera Vira Kerala and Kandan Kari Varman and that the latter Mushika King belonged to the Ay Dynasty.[4]

Kola Swarupam (Chirakkal Rajah)

Kolattunādu (Kola Swarupam, as Kingdom of Cannanore in foreign accounts, Chirakkal (Chericul) in later times) was one of the three most powerful feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast during the arrival of Portuguese India Armadas, the others being Zamorin's Calicut and Quilon. The Kolathiris are praised as Vadakkan Perumals ("Kings of the North") by the noted "Keralolpathi". Kolathiri were also known as Chirakkal Raja or King of Chirakkal.

  • Rama Ghata Mushaka – established the lineage of Kola Swarupam;
  • Vikrama Rama[5] an inscription dating to 929 AD mentions about one Vikrama Rama identifiable with the ruler Vikrama Rama who appears in the Mushika Vamsa
  • Udaya Varma, also known as "Rama Ghata Muvar" – mentioned on the inscription from 10th century AD
  • Eraman Chemani (Rama Jayamani) – the inscription from the Tiruvattur temple mentions him to be identifiable as the king who appears as the 109th ruler in the Mushika Vamsa

Arrakal Kingdom

Arakkal kingdom (Kingdom of Cannanore, Sultanate of Laccadive and Cannanore) was a former city-state on the Malabar Coast, ruled by a dynasty of the same name. The ruling King was called Ali Raja ("the Sea Ruler") and the ruling queen was called Arakkal Beevi. The royal family is said to be originally a branch of the Kolattiri, descended from a princess of that family who converted to Islam. They owed allegiance to the Kolattiri rulers, whose ministers they had been at one time. The Arakkal family was the only Muslim royal family of Kerala to control parts of the coast and Lakshadweep.

  • Ali Raja Ali II – known to have deployed his naval Mappila forces on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb during the Child's War

Samoothiri of Kozhikode

Zamorin of Calicut[6] (Saamoothiri, സാമൂതിരി) – rulers of Malabar from the 14th and 18th century AD. At the peak of their reign, the Samoothiris ruled over a region from Kollam (Quilon) to Panthalayini Kollam (Koyilandy).

  • Mana Vikrama (Manikkan) – legendary founder of the ruling family
  • Mana Vikrama the Great – the Russian merchant of Tver Afanasy Nikitin (1468–1474) visited Kozhikode during his reign
  • Mana Vikrama III – the expulsion of the Portuguese from Chaliyam (1571) by his forces
  • Mana Vikrama (Saktan Tampuran) – uncle of the author of the Krishnanatakam
  • Mana Veda – author of the Krishnanatakam
  • Asvati Tirunal – His forces undertook the expulsion of Portuguese from Kodungallur (1662)
  • Puratam Tirunal – Portuguese were expelled from Kochi under his reign (1663)
  • Uttrattati Tirunal – ceded Chetwai to the Dutch
  • Bharani Tirunal Mana Vikram – the terror of the Dutch; two Mamankams (1694 and 1695)
  • Nileswaram Tirunal – adoptions from Nileswaram (1706 and 1707)
  • Samoothiri from Kilakke Kovilakam (1741–1746)
  • Putiya Kovilakam (1746–1758) – the Dutch War was fought during his term (1753–1758).
  • Kilakke Kovilakam (1758–1766) – battles with Travancore and the invasion of Mysore; committed suicide; annexed by Mysore
  • Putiya Kovilakam (1766–1788)
  • Kerala Varma Vikrama[7] (1788–1798) – Treaty of Seringapatam (1792)
  • Krishna Varma[8] (1798–1806) – agreement of 1806 with EIC (died in 1816)

Purannatt Swarupam (Cotiote Rajah)

Kings of Travancore

In the 18th century, Marthanda Varma (1706–1758), of the Trippappoor, successfully developed the centralised state of Travancore. Varma routed all of major Nair nobles in Travancore, organised a standing army, defeated most of the chiefdoms in central Kerala, entered into strategic alliances with Europeans, supported Kerala merchants (Syrian Christian) in the place of the Europeans, and eventually formed one of the first modern states of southern India.

Dewan of Travancore

Kings of Cochin
  • Unniraman Koikkal I (1500–1503)
  • Veera Kerala Varma (1537–1565)
  • Kesava Rama Varma (1565–1601)
  • Rama Varma (1701–1721)
  • Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran (1790–1805)
  • Rama Varma XV (1895–1914)
  • Kerala Varma (1946–1948)
  • Rama Varma Pareekshithu Thampuran (1948–1964) – last king of Cochin[12][13]

Villarvattom Dynasty (vassal principality of the Kingdom of Cochin)

Heads of state
K.R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002)

President of India

President of Singapore

Parliament of India

Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha
  • P. D. T. Achari – Secretary General of the Lok Sabha (14th and 15th)
  • T. K. Viswanathan – Secretary General of the Lok Sabha (15th)

Governors of states
  • P.C. Alexander
    • ninth Governor of Tamil Nadu, 1988–1990
    • seventeenth Governor of Maharashtra, 1993–2002
    • seventh Governor of Goa, 1996–1998
  • P V Cherian – eighth Governor of Maharashtra, 1964–1969
  • M. M. Jacob – ninth Governor of Meghalaya, 1995–2007
  • A. J. John, Anaparambil – fourth Governor of Madras, 1956–1957
  • M K Narayanan – 24th Governor of West Bengal, 2010–present
  • Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
    • fourth Governor of Punjab, 1962–1964
    • fourth Governor of Andhra Pradesh, 1964–1968
    • Madathilparampil Mammen Thomas Governor of Nagaland, 1990-1992
  • Vakkom Purushothaman – eleventh Governor of Mizoram, 2011–2014
  • K. Sankaranarayanan – 21st Governor of Maharashtra, 2010–2014
  • K.K. Viswanathan – sixth Governor of Gujarat, 1973–1978
  • Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP – 18th Governor of Mizoram, 2018–2019
  • P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, BJP - 19th Governor of Mizoram, 2019-to present

Council of Ministers, India
A. K. Antony

Union Cabinet Ministers

Minister of State (Independent Charges)
  • M. P. Veerendra Kumar – Ministry of Labour with additional charge of Urban Affairs (1997–1998)
  • K. V. Thomas – Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (2009–2014)
  • Alphons Kannanthanam, BJP - Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism (2016–2019)

Minister of State (MoS)
  • Lakshmi N. Menon – Ministry of External Affairs of India (1957–1966)
  • Mullappally Ramachandran – Ministry of Home Affairs (2009–2014) – Agriculture and Cooperation (1991–1996)
  • M. M. Jacob – Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources and Home Affairs at different periods (1987–93)
  • O. Rajagopal , BJP – Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs,Railways,Urban Development, Defence (1999–2004)
  • Shashi Tharoor – Ministry of External Affairs of India (2009–2010), Minister of State for Human Resource Development (2012–2014)
  • E. Ahamed – Ministry of External Affairs (2011– ); Minister of State for Human Resource Development; Minister of State for Railways (2004–2014)
  • K. C. Venugopal – Ministry of Power (2011–2014)
  • Kodikkunnil Suresh – Ministry of Labour and Employment (2012–2014)
  • V Muraleedharan , BJP – Minister of state for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs

Chief Ministers
V. S. Achuthanandan

From Kerala
Main articles: List of Chief Ministers of Kerala and Kerala Council of Ministers

Ministers

Kerala
  • T. M. Varghese – Minister for Education, Travancore (1948), of Travancore-Cochin (1952)
  • C. Kesavan – Minister of Travancore (1948); Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin (1951–1952)
  • Joseph Mundassery – Minister for Education & Co-operation, Kerala (1957–1959)
  • K. R. Gowri Amma – Minister for Revenue (1957–1959); (1967–1969); Minister for Industries (1980–1981); (1987–1991) and for Agriculture (2001–2006)
  • M. N. Govindan Nair - Minister for Agriculture, Transport, Electricity and Housing (1970-1977)
  • R. Balakrishna Pillai – Minister for Transport, Jails and Excise (1975–1976), Electricity ( 1980–1981, 1982–1984, 1985–1986), Transport (1991–95, 2003–2004)
  • K.M. Mani – Minister for Finance (1975–1977; 1980–1986; 2011–2016); Home Affairs (1977–1979); Irrigation (1987); Revenue (1991–1996; 2001–2006)
  • Ramesh Chennithala – Minister for Rural Development (1986–1987), Home Affairs (2014–2016)
  • M. P. Veerendra Kumar – Minister for forests (1987)
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty – Minister for Industries (1991–1996; 2001–2005; 2011–2016)
  • Pinarai Vijayan – Minister for Electric Power and Co-operatives (1996–1998)
  • M.A. Baby – Minister for Education (2006–2011)
  • Mathew T. Thomas – Minister for Transport (2006–2009)
  • Paloli Mohammed Kutty – Minister for Local Self Government (2006–2011)
  • P. J. Joseph – Minister for Public Works (2006); Water Resources (2011–2016)
  • Monce Joseph – Minister for Public Works (2007–2009)

Other states

Political leaders
  • A. P. Udhayabhanu – Member Travancore State Assembly (1944–1952)
  • C.P.Mathen – Member of Parliament (1952); Indian Ambassador to Sudan (1957–1960)
  • A.K. Gopalan (AKG) – leader of the Opposition (India), Lok Sabha (1952–1977); Communist Party of India (Marxist)
  • Mathai Manjooran – member of Rajya Sabha (1952–1954)[18]
  • K. M. George – member, Kerala Legislative Assembly (1960–1964)[19] founder Kerala Congress (1964)
  • K.Damodaran (Damodaran Kizhedath) – Member Rajya Sabha (1964–1970);[18] the first 'Malayalee Communist' (1937)
  • Thennala Balakrishna Pillai – Member Rajya Sabha, three terms (1991–1998; 2003–2009)[18]
  • P. Krishna Pillai – founder of communist movement in Kerala (1937)
  • Azhikodan Raghavan – Communist Party Leader in Kerala
  • Pannyan Raveendran – Member Loka Sabha (2006–2012); Kerala State Secretary, Communist Party of India (2012–2015)
  • Pinarai Vijayan – Chief Minister, Kerala; Kerala State Secretary, CPI(M) (1998–2015), and member of the CPI(M) Politburo (2002–incumbent)
  • Prakash Karat – General Secretary, CPI(M) of India (2005–2015)
  • Panakkad Shihab Thangal (Panakkad Sayeed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal) – President of the Kerala state committee of the IUML (1975–2009)
  • Ramesh Chennithala – President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (2005-incumbent); four times Lok Sabha MP (1989–2004)
  • Anathalavattom Anandan – President, CITU State Committee; Vice Chairman, Apex Body for Coir; State Secretariat Member, CPI(M); three times MLA from Attingal Constituency
  • P. Chacko MLA – Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly (1960–1964)[19]
  • Dr. George Thomas – Kerala Legislative Assembly (1967–1970)[20]
  • M. T. Jacob – Mayor of Aluva (2010–incumbent)
  • Vakkom Bharathan – CPI(M) leader, trade union leader
  • Kummanam Rajasekharan – former Mizoram Governor; former BJP Kerala state president
  • P.J. Kurien – Member and Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha from Kerala (2012–incumbent)
  • V.S. Achuthanandan – former chief minister Kerala (2006–11)
  • P. K. Jayalakshmi – youngest minister in the Oommen Chandy Government (elected to office at age 30); first Adivasi Minister of Kerala
  • K.Karunakaran – former chief minister Kerala (3235 days)
  • Oommen Chandy – former chief minister Kerala (2446 days)
  • O. Rajagopal – former Central Minister, two times MP, first BJP MLA in Kerala
  • Suresh Gopi – BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala; National Award-winning superstar actor
  • Charles Dias – first Malayalee nominated as Anglo Indian MP
  • Richard Hay – BJP Loksabha MP from Kerala, second Malayalee nominated as Anglo Indian MP
  • V Muraleedharan – Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala
  • Alphonse Kannanthanam – former Central Tourism, IT, Electronics Minister; BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala

Award winners

Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.[21]

Padma Vibhushan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan

The Padma Vibhushan is India's second highest civilian honour.[22]

  • V.K. Krishna Menon – Public Affairs (1954)
  • John Matthai – Literature & Education (1959)
  • Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan (K. R. Ramanathan) – Science & Engineering (1976)
  • Mambillikalathil Kumar Menon (M. G. K. Menon) – Civil Service (1985)
  • V. R. Krishna Iyer – Public Affairs (1999)
  • Kakkadan Nandanath Raj (K. N. Raj) – Literature & Education (2000)
  • Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Arts (2006)
  • George Sudarshan – Science & Engineering (2007)
  • ONV Kurup – Literature & Education (2011)
  • K. J. Yesudas – singing (2017)

Padma Bhushan
M. S. Valiathan

The Padma Bhushan is India's third highest civilian honour.[23] (This is not a complete list.)

  • Vallathol Narayana Menon – Literature & Education (1954); poet (Mahakavi)
  • Lakshmi Nandan Menon (Lakshmi N. Menon) – Public Affairs (1957)
  • Kumar Padma Siva Shankara Menon (K. P. S. Menon (senior)) – Civil Service (1958)
  • Mannathu Padmanabhan, (Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai) – Social Work (1966)
  • K.P. Kesava Menon – Public Affairs (1966)
  • Govinda Shankara Kurup (G. Sankara Kurup) – Literature & Education (1968); poet
  • Poyipilli Kunju Kurup, (Guru Kunchu Kurup) – Arts (1971)
  • Kandathil Mammen Cherian – Literature & Education (1971)
  • Pothan Joseph – Literature & Education (1973)
  • George Sudarshan – Literature & Education (1976)
  • Prem Nazir – Arts (1983); actor
  • Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai – Literature & Education; (1985) novelist and short story writer
  • Nalapat Balamani Amma – Literature & Education (1987); poet
  • Marathanda Verma Sankaran Valiathan, (M. S. Valiathan) – Medicine (1990
  • Thomas Kailath – Science and Engineering (2009)
  • Thayil Jacob Sony George (T. J. S. George) – Literature & Education (2011)
  • K.J. Yesudas – Arts (2002); classical singer and musician
  • Jacob Cherian – Social Work (1999)[24]
  • Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair Arts (2019); Art-Acting-film[25]
  • S Nambi Narayan(Nambi Narayanan) (2019); Science & Engineering-Space[25]

Padma Shri
Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (1899–1990)
Dr. K. J. Yesudas
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

The Padma Shri is India's fourth highest civilian honour.[26] (This is not a complete list.)

National Medal of Science

The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.[28]

  • Thomas Kailath (2012) – presented by President Barack Obama in 2014 for "transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry"[29][30]

Academy Awards

The Academy Awards also known as the Oscars are a set of 24 awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry, given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy's voting membership.[31]

Booker Prize

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Booker–McConnell Prize and commonly known simply as the Booker Prize) is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the UK.

Government and world organisations

Members of the Imperial Civil Service
  • K P S Menon Sr. – First Foreign Secretary of India and the 1st Ambassador of India to China
  • V. P. Menon – Political Reforms Commissioner to the Viceroy of India Lord Louis Mountbatten[37]
  • N. R. Pillai – First Cabinet Secretary (1950–1953)
  • M. K. Vellodi – Third Cabinet Secretary (1957–1958)

Civil Services of India

Cabinet Secretaries
  • Sir N R Pillai – first Cabinet Secretary of India
  • T.N.Seshan – 18th Cabinet Secretary (1989–1989)
  • K. M. Chandrasekhar – 29th Cabinet Secretary (2007–2011)

Members
Shivshankar Menon

Members of the United Nations
Shashi Tharoor

Military leaders

Early Modern Period
  • Kunhali Marakkar – The Kunjali Marakkar or Kunhali Marakkar was the title given to the Muslim naval chief of the Zamorin of Calicut (Samoothiri of Kozhikode), by Hindu King of Calicut, in present-day state of Kerala, India during the 16th century. There were four major Kunjalis who played a part in the Zamorin's naval wars with the Portuguese from 1507 to 1600. The Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast.[41][42][43]

The four key Kunhali Marakkars:

  1. Kutti Ahmed Ali – Kunhali Marakkar I
  2. Kutti Pokker Ali – Kunhali Marakkar II
  3. Pattu Kunhali – Kunhali Marakkar III
  4. Mohammed Ali – Kunhali Marakkar IV

Contemporary period

Army

Air Force
Param Vishist Seva Medal holders
  • Air Marshal E.P.R. Nair – Commanding-in Chief of the Training Command, Indian Air Force (1981–1985)[46]
  • Air Marshal K.N. Nair – Commanding-in Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force[47]
  • Air Marshal Narayan Menon – Air Officer-in-Charge (Personnel), Air Headquarters (1999–2004)[48]

Jurists

Chief Justice of India

Judges of the Supreme Court of India
Justice M. Fathima Beevi

Women Judges of the Supreme Court of India
  • M. Fathima Beevi (1989–1992) – first woman Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Women Judges of the High Court
  • Smt. Justice Anna Chandy – Judge of the High Court of Kerala (1959–1967) and the first woman in India to be a judge of a High Court
  • Kumari Justice P. Janaki Amma – second woman Judge of the High Court of Kerala (1974–1982)

Academia

Ancient mathematicians

Scientists

Faculty
Thomas Kailath
V.C. Samuel

Heads of institutions

Medical sciences

Humanities and social sciences
  • Nivedita Menon – feminist writer; professor of political thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Business and commerce

Social reformers

Independence activists
Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

Social reformers
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya
  • Adi Sankara (788–820) – saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India
  • Ayyankali – leader of Dalits
  • K. M. Seethi – Saheb Bahadur, usually referred to as Seethi Saheb
  • Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1925) – social reformer
  • C. Kesavan – Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin, 1951–1952
  • Kuriakose Elias Chavara – social reformer and Syrian Catholic saint
  • Lalithambika Antharjanam – social reformer and writer
  • K. P. Kesava Menon – founder of Mathrubhumi daily
  • K. Kumar (Elanthoor Kumarji) – freedom fighter and social-reformer who worked for Harijan upliftment and communal harmony
  • K. Kelappan – freedom fighter and social reformer
  • Mathai Manjooran (1912–1970) – socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry
  • Mannathu Padmanabhan – founder of Nair Service Society
  • M. C. Joseph – rationalist, founding editor of Yukthivadi
  • Nawab Rajendran – social activist
  • Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) – pivotal figure in the Renaissance of Kerala, social reformer, scholar, teacher, saint and Vedantin
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan – social reformer, follower of Sri Narayana Guru
  • Nataraja Guru – disciple of Narayana Guru
  • Vakkom Moulavi (1877–1933) – social reformer, educationist, writer and journalist
  • Abraham Barak Salem – Zionist, Indian nationalist, leader of the Jewish community and social activist

Religion and spirituality

Hinduism

Islam

Christianity

PRDS
  • Poykayil Yohannan aka Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan – activist, poet and the founder of the socio-religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha

Literature and writing

Writers
See also: List of fiction writers in Malayalam
Chandiroor Divakaran

Journalists

Film and media
Mohanlal and Mammootty

Models

Actresses

Actors

Film producer and directors

Music
K.S. Chithra, singer

Artists, architects, painters, sculptors

Painters

Architects

Sculptors

Cartoonists

  • Abu Abraham – cartoonist
  • Cartoonist Shankar (1902–1989) – political cartoonist
  • K. S. Pillai (1919–1978) – political cartoonist
  • O. V. Vijayan – cartoonist, writer
  • P. K. Manthri – artist, cartoonist
  • Gopikrishnan – cartoonist
  • S. Jithesh – performing cartoonist
  • Yesudasan – cartoonist; former Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academy

Sports
See also: List of Kerala Olympians
  • (C) denotes players who have captained the national side.

Athletics

Badminton

Basketball

Canoeing

Chess

Cricket

India

Other countries

Football

Hockey

Kabbadi

Volleyball

Shooting

Swimming

Table tennis

Activists

Performing artists
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