List of Nairs

This list of Nairs contains prominent members of the ancient Nair community of southern India. Some of them also have the name "Nair".

Contents 1 Spiritual leaders 2 Freedom fighters 3 Policy makers/administrators 4 Military personnel 5 Royal lineages 6 Film actors and others 7 Artists and entertainers 8 Kathakali artists 9 See also 10 References

Spiritual leaders

• Swami Chinmayananda – (previous name Balakrishna Menon) Modern day Hindu guru and founder of Chinmaya Mission
• Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal – Hindu sage, social reformer

Freedom fighters

• Velu Thampi Dalawa – Dalawa of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom and a freedom fighter
• K. Kelappan – a.k.a Kerala Gandhi, freedom fighter, founder of the Nair Service Society

Policy makers/administrators

• K. P. Karunakara Menon – Ex President of Nair Service Society
• M. G. Ramachandran – a.k.a. M.G.R, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977–1987, his father is Nair.

Military personnel

• Lt General K P Candeth.^[1] – Lieutenant General in the Indian Army during Indo-Pak war

Royal lineages

• Travancore Royal Family – Ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore (Thiruvithamcode). As per the earliest records the ruler was mentioned as the "Nair of Venad". Sree Padmanabhadasa Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma Maharajah (1706-1758/reign-1729-1758) was the most powerful and the founder of the kingdom of "Travancore"(earlier known as "Venad").
• Cochin Royal Family – Ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Cochin. The most powerful ruler in the lineage being Shakthan Thampuran (Rama Varma Kunjhipillai, 1751–1805)
• Maharajah of Kolathunād – Better known as the Kolathiris, it is believed by many, to be the oldest living aristocracy globally.^[2]
• Zamorin – Maharajah of Calicut, an erstwhile Kingdom in the state of Kerala belongs to the Eradi subsect. They lost power when Tipu Sultan invaded Malabar in 1766.
• Valluvakonāthiri Moopil Nāyar – Former ruler of Valluvanad who were also known as the Vallodi
• Raja of Kadathanad – Former ruler of Kadathanad. Also known as Polarthiri or Pola Swaroopam, the former rulers of Polanad (Present Kozhikode/Calicut). Lineage of Nambiars
• Njavakkatt Kartha – Former ruler of Meenachil
• Kavalappara Swaroopam – Ruler was known as Kavalappara Moopil Nair.
• Kurumbranad – Maharaja of Vadakara – and 30 koottams (Vadakara, Koilandy Koottam, Moodadi Koottam, Tacholi Koottam, Balussery koottam, Wayanad), also known as Vadakara Vazhunoor
• Arakkal Royal Family – The only Muslim Royal Family in Kerala, though officially no longer Hindus, they are a branch of the Mushika/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family.

Film actors and others

• M.G. Ramachandran Menon a.k.a MGR – Tamil Actor and Chief Minister of Tamilnadu
• Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair – First Malayalam film Superstar in 1950s; won Padma Shri Award 1973
• Travancore sisters – Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini

Artists and entertainers

• Irayimman Thampi – Carnatic musician as well as a music composer.

Kathakali artists

• Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Kavalappara Narayanan Nair – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Madavoor Vasudevan Nair – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Guru Kelu Nair – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair – prominent Kathakali exponent
• Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair – a renowned Kathakali artiste; won Padma Shri Award 1970

See also

• List of gallantry and military service award winners from the Nair community

References