List of Vellalars
Vellalars are Tamil people who are a land owning feudal community. They are an agrarian community. Some of the Vellalars in the Medieval period were sages such as Nayanmars and religious scholars like Sekkizhar. Out of the sixty three Nayanmars, thirteen were from Vellalar community. Some of the prominent individuals of the Modern period such as Maraimalai Adigal and Arumuga Navalar fought against the Varna system. At the same time, they were also intimately associated with the Indian independence movement with the most prominent freedom fighter from the community was V.O. Chidambaram Pillai. Post independence, Vellalars have gained prominence into a number of fields.
Historical personalities
Nayanmars
Poets and Ministers
- Sekkizhar, the author of the Tamil hagiography Periyapuranam or The Great Purana consisting of the life stories of the 63 Tamil Saiva Saints
- Vallal Sadaiyappa Mudaliar, a rich 12th-century Vellala chief who had residences at Puduvai (Pondicherry) and Thiruvenainallur.
- Andaka Kaviviraraghava Mudaliar, poet of the 16th century from Pon-vilaintha Kalathur.
- Ariyanatha Mudaliar: Vellala Dalavoy of the Vijayanagar viceroy Viswanatha Nayaka.
Freedom fighters and leaders
- Sardar Vedaratnam, Freedom-fighter famous for Vedaraniam Salt March
- Gooty Kesava Pillai (1860–1933), Indian journalist and freedom-fighter. Delegate from Anantapur at the first session of the Indian National Congress.
- Maruthanayagam Pillai (1725–1764) Commandant for the British East India Company, later became Administrator for Madurai. Also known as Muhammed Yusuf Khan
- V. O. Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), famous Indian freedom fighter, the man who first supported a Scheduled Caste sage Swami Sahajaanantha,Founder of first Indigenous Ship Company against British rule.
- Jeeva,Communist Leader
- L. D. Swamikannu Pillai, Indian astronomer,former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly
- Dheeran Chinamalai, revolutionist
- Muthuranga Mudaliar: freedom-fighter from Thiruvallur District
- Sarojini Varadappan, Indian freedom-fighter and social activist
Politics
- P T Rajan: Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Leader Justice Party.
- C. Natesa Mudaliar: He is regarded as the father of Dravidian movement. He along with Sh Pitti Theagarayar and Dr T M . Nair started "the South Indian Welfare Society " which later became Justice party
- Arcot Ramaswami Mudaliar: Mayor of Madras(1928-30), Member-Advisor in High Level "War Committee" formed by the British PM Sir. Winson Churchill during the World Wars, Member-Advisor in all the 3 London-Round Table Conferences(1930,'31,'32);Commerce member of the Viceroy's Council;Indian Representative & Leader in U.N.in 1945 and his efforts put India as a Member Nation in the U.N.; Chief of U.N. Finance Committee; Diwan of Mysore(1946-49)
- Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar: First Indian principal of the Madras Medical College, Served as Chairman-UNESCO; Vice Chancellor, University of Madras for the Longest Tenure of 27 Yrs; Chairman-W.H.O, Younger Twin Brother of Sir. A.Ramaswami Mudaliar.
- P. Subbarayan - Premier of Madras Presidency (1926–1930), also served in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru
- C. Subramaniam - Father of the Indian Green Revolution, Former Union Minister, Deputy chairperson of the Planning Commission, Governor of Maharastra
- M. Bhakthavatsalam: Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu & Congress Leader.
- P. Shanmugam: Former Chief Minister of Pondicherry State and present State Congress Chief.
- O. V. Alagesan: Former Union Minister of India.
- V R Nedunchezhiyan: Former Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and Former Intermin Chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
- K Anbazhagan: Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK Leader.
- PTR Palanivel Rajan: Formerly Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly,Endowment Minister.
- K. S. Ramaswamy Gounder - Former Union Minister in the Cabinet of Indira Gandhi
- Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan - Ex Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Rangarajan Kumaramangalam - lawyer, former Union Minister and Congress/BJP leader
- K. N. Palanisamy Gounder, former member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, called the "Father of Tirupur city".
- C. Muttukumarasami Mudaliyar, Indian politician and hereditary zamindar of Chunampet. Member of the Madras Legislative Council 1904-7
- N. V. Natarajan-DMK Politician and Founding member of DMK
- C. Shanmugavelu – Industries minister -AIADMK Government of Tamil Nadu for (2011–2016)
- Jayanthi Natarajan:Former MP from Indian National Congress party
- Lalitha Kumaramangalam - member of national executive of Bharatiya Janata Party.She was earlier national secretary of the party.
- M. Karunanidhi, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and head of DMK
- M. K. Stalin, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and MLA of Kolathur
Business
Literature
- V. Kalyanasundaram: Famous Writer also known as Thiru.Vi.Ka.
- M. Varadarasan: Novelist and writer also known as Mu Va
- Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai, Eminent Tamil poet
- Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai,Famous Poet, freedom fighter
- Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai, eminent writer in Tamil literature
- Maraimalai Adigal
- Makaral Karthikeya Mudaliar: A scholar and poet in the 19th century who hailed from Veyttur, near Maduranthakam. He authored a number of Tamil books, including Veleer varalaatrumanbu, Tamil Solvilakkam, and Mozhi Nool.
- Mahavidwan Vasudeva Mudaliar: A from Chettipalayam near Pothanur in Coimbatore District
- Pa. Subramania Mudaliar: A Tamil poet of the 19th century who hailed from Athur Mappothiyar gothram of Vellakal, Tirunelveli District
- TK Chidambaranatha Mudaliar: A scholar and author of Kambar tharum Ramayanam; hailed from Athur Mopothiyar Gothram of Tenkasi
- C. W. Thamotharampillai, publisher of ancient Tamil texts
- Pudhumaipithan,[1] revolutionery writer
- M.P. Periasamy Thooran: Musician, Chief Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia (1948–1978), Padma Bhushan (1968).
- Jayakanthan,[2] A Tamil writer
Armed and civil services
Academicians
Music
Film industry
- Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar: Tamil playwright and Dramtist, known as "Father of Tamil Drama"
- N. S. Krishnan, Legendary Comedy actor
- A.P. Nagarajan - Tamil cinema film director
- Sivakumar - Tamil cinema artist
- K. B. Sundarambal - Tamil cinema artist
- Vijayakumar, Film actor
- Sathyaraj - Tamil cinema actor
- KS RaviKumar, Film Director
- Vadivelu, cinema actor
- Vikraman, Film Director
- Surya Sivakumar - Tamil cinema actor
- Karthi Sivakumar - award winning actor in Tamil cinema
- Ponvannan - Tamil cinema actor
- Sundar C, Film Director cum Actor
- Aparna Pillai, Actress
- Azhagam Perumal, Film Director
- Nandha Durairaj, cinema actor
- Arun Vijay, Film actor
- Sibiraj, Film actor
Sports
Spiritual
References