List of Nairs

A list of the most famous Nairs.

Spiritual Leaders

• Tapovan Maharaj - Swami Tapovan Maharaj (previous name Subramanian Nair) was a great Hindu sage who lived his later life in the Himalayas.
• 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
• Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi-(previous name Sekharan Nair)-Hindu Sage and founder of Sree Ramadasa Mission reckoned as the Greatest Karmayogi to uphold Sanatana Dharma since Swami Vivekananda
• Swami Niranjananda - of the Ramakrishnan Mission
• Swami Ranganathananda - Headed the Ramakrishna Mission

Freedom Fighters and Political Activists

• Billy Nair - South African anti-apartheid activist and comrade of Nelson Mandela and M. P.
• Chengalath Kunhirama Menon - Renowned journalist and freedom fighter
• Ammu Swaminathan - (freedom fighter)
• N. Sreekantan Nair - (freedom fighter)
• G. P. Pillai - (freedom fighter)- Founder Madras Mail - News Paper
• K. P. Kesava Menon - Indian independence activist
• Velu Thampi Dalawa - Dalawa of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, Freedom Fighter
• Edachena Kunkan Nair - Commander of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja's army in Wyanad.
• Kaitheri Ambu Nambiar - Commander of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja's army in Kottayam, as well as his brother-in-law.
• Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai - a.k.a Kuthira Pakki, Commander of the Travancore Nair Army, which defeated Tipu Sultan.
• Mannathu Padmanabhan Nair - Social reformer and freedom fighter
• Sir Chettur Shankaran Nair - President of the Indian National Congress & member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
• K. Kelappan - a.k.a Kerala Gandhi, freedom fighter, founder of NSS.
• Cherumony Damodaran Nair - {freedom fighter}-INA.
• Sankara Narayanan Thampi - Freedom Fighter.
• T. M. Nair - Tharavath Madhavan Nair - Founder of Justice Party,Politician And Physician.
• K P Madhavan Nair - Freedom Fighter and former All India General Secratary of Indian National Congress
• Dr. G Ramachandran - Freedom Fighter and Founder of Gandhigram (Now Gandhigram Rural University) in Madurai

Writers and Journalists

• O. Chandhu Menon - First malayalam novelist who wrote Indulekha in 1889, the first Malayalam fictional work as accepted by literary convention.
• G. Sankara Kurup - Writer and Recipient of the First Jnanpith Award in 1965.
• Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai - Recipient of the Jnanpith Award in 1984. "Chemmeen", his renowned novel has been translated into more than thirty languages.
• M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Renowned Keralite author and screenplay writer. Recipient of the Jnanpith Award in 1995.
• O. N. V. Kurup - Poet, Recipient of the Jnanpith Award for 2007
• Sanjayan - One of the best known Malayalam authors. a.k.a Mannikoth Ramunni Nair.
• Changampuzha Krishna Pillai - Famous poet
• Edappally Raghavan Pillai - Famous poet
• C. Karunakara Menon - Indian journalist
• Chandran Nair - Singaporean poet and retired Director and Mediator of UNESCO in Paris.
• Ramesh Menon - Indian author and journalist
• Appu Nedungadi - Author of Kundalatha
• Anita Nair - Novelist,English Writer.
• G. Balakrishnan Nair - Professor G. Balakrishna Nair is an emeritus Sanskrit academician, author and renowned scholar.
• M. Krishnan Nair - Eminent Malayalam writer, literary critic and orator.
• Mahakavi Pala Narayanan Nair - Renowned Malayalam poet
• M. P. Sankunni Nair - Renowned Malayalam poet
• V. Madhusoodhanan Nair - Renowned Malayalam poet
• Pulloottupadathu Bhaskaran Nair - Renowned Malayalam poet
• Preethi Nair - British author
• Edasseri Govindan Nair - Leading figure in modern Malayalam poetry.
• Preetu Nair - Indian journalist
• P. K. Venukuttan Nair - Vice-president of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
• Thikkodiyan - Malayalam author
• C. V. Raman Pillai - Malayalam novelist
• Vinita Nair - American television journalist
• Balachandran Chullikkadu - Renowned Malayalam poet
• Balamani Amma - Malayalam poet
• P. Bhaskaran- Famous Malayalam poet
• Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan- Was Indian poet
• Kavalam Narayana Panicker - Indian dramatist and poet
• Pannisseri Nanu Pillai - Was a poet and scholar
• Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup - Was a poet from kerala
• Rajalakshmi - Was a Malayalam writer and poet from Kerala
• Sugathakumari - Is an Indian poet-Activist
• Kamala Das - Famous Indian writer who wrote in Malayalam and English
• V. K. N. - Was a pathbreaking and celebrated Malayalam writer. a.k.a Vadakkke Koottala Narayanankutty Nair.
• E. Harikumar - Is a Malaylam novelist and short story writer
• Nisha Pillai - Indian born journalist based in London. She is one of the main news anchor with BBC World News
• Shashi Tharoor - a world renowned English language writer- both fiction and non-fiction
• M. P. Narayana Pillai - Writer in Malayalam
• Uroob- P.C.Kutty Krishna Menon,Famous Malayalam Writer.
• Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai - Writer, Journalist, Newspaper editor, and political activist.
• Kesari Balakrishna Pillai - Writer, Journalist
• Karur Neelakanta Pillai- Renowned Short Story writer.
• Kunjunni- Poet, Philosopher.
• Thinakkal Padmanabhan - Renowned Short Story writer.
• S. Guptan Nair - Well known Malayalam writer and Critic.
• K.C.S. Paniker - He was a Veteran Visual Artist and Founder Cholamandalam Artists Village, near Chennai.
• M V Nikesh Kumar - CEO of Indiavision. Son of M. V. Raghavan.
• Sooranad Kunjan Pillai - Scholar of Malayalam Language.Won Padmashree Award 1984.
• K. Shankar Pillai - Famous Indian cartoonist, Writer.Won Padma Vibhushan Award 1976.
• Sunil Nayar - Famous Indian American television Writer and Producer.
• V.K. Nayanar - Malayali journalist, essay writer, critic and short story writer.
• E. V. Krishna Pillai - Renowed Writer of Malayalam literature.
• Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai - Malayalam Author And Actor.
• Kainikkara Kumara Pillai - Malayalam Teacher And Actor.
• K. Raghavan Pillai - Famous Writer and Scholar.
• K. C. Kesava Pillai - Composer of Carnatic Music,Poet,Writer.
• Thoppil Bhasi - Screenwriter And Film director.
• S. Ramesan Nair - Famous Poet and Lyricist.
• Vijayakrishnan - First Keralite to receive the Indian National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema .
• K. N. Panikkar - Famous Indian Historian.
• Chirayinkeezhu Ramakrishnan Nair - Famous Malayalam Lyricist.
• K. Ayyappa Paniker - Famous Poet.
• Pamman - Malayalam novelist
• C. Radhakrishnan - Famous Malayalam Novelist, Scientist.

Scientists and academicians

• G. Madhavan Nair - Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, Secretary Dept. of Space. Man behind India's Chandrayaan.
• K. Radhakrishnan (scientist) - Dr.K.Radhakrishnan, Director, VSSC, Designated Chairman, ISRO.
• E. Sreedharan, Dr. E. Shreedhara Menon,Indian technocrat, M.D of Delhi Metro, Chairman of Konkan Railway Project.
• Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon - Notable physicist and policy maker at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.Former Director of ISRO.
• Dr Jai Menon - IBM master scientist in the field of storage, Invented RAID Technology. He is IBM Fellow and also a Vice-President.
• Mani Menon - Eminent Surgeon, [Detroit, U.S.A.]
• N. R. Madhava Menon- Famous legal educator, founder VC of (NUJS) in West Bengal, founder National Law School of India University in Bangalore.
• M. S. Valiathan - Famous Cardiac surgeon, Former Vice Chancellor, Manipal University.Won Padmashree Award 1985.
• R. Kesavan Nair - Kerala's First Civil Surgeon.
• K. C. Sreedharan Pillai - Indian mathematician
• Dr. N.Unnikrishnan Nair -Famous Indian Statistician and Former Vice Chancellor ,Cochin University of science and technology
• M. Krishnan Nair - Leading Oncologist. He received the Padmashree Award.
• Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai - Lexicographer and Scholar
• P. K. Venugopalan Nambiar - Indian agricultural scientist credited with the development of the first hybrid variety of black pepper in the world.
• Dinesh Nair - leading British chemical engineer and Head of GlaxoSmithKline's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Manufacture.
• G. Balakrish Nair - An eminent Indian microbiologist. At present, he is the Director of National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases (NICED, ICMR), Kolkata, India.
• G. Balakrishnan Nair - Emeritus Sanskrit academician.
• Anil Nair - Researcher on Alzheimer's Disease and neurology at Boston University.
• Kookal Ramunni Krishnan - Physician
• Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai - Historian
• K. N. Panikkar - Famous Indian Marxist Historian
• Gopinath Kartha - Famous Crystallographer, Scientist.
• Remi Chandran - Environmental Policy Analyst
• R. V. G. Menon - Famous Environmentalist From Kerala.
• Kottayan Katankot Venugopal - Famous Advocate of Supreme Court.
• Mallor Govinda Pillai - He was eminent Advocate who Specialized in Criminal Cases.
• Dr.Chandrathil Gouri Krishnadas Nair - Won Padmashree Award 2001.
• Parameswaran Kuttapp Panikkar - Famous Civil Servant.Won Padma Shri Award 1959.
• Dr.Madempath Kalathil Krishna Menon - Famous Physician. Won Padma Shri Award1973.
• Dr.Narayana Balakrish Nair - Famous Physician. Won Padma Shri Award1984.
• K. Ramunni Menon - Former Vice-Chancellor,Madras University.
• V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai - Currently Vice-Chancellor of the IGNOU.
• K. Radhakrishnan (engineer) - Currently Chief Engineer,of KSEB.
• Jaishankar Menon - IBM Master Scientist in the field of storage.
• Gita Gopinath - full professor at Harvard University's Department of Economics
• Dr.A.SreekumarMenon Manaagement specialist , Researcher and Author of award winning Management books
• Dr.Arun Sreekumar Distiguished Cancer Scientist and Ass.Professor ,Bayler University ,U.S.A
• Dr. M. A. Atmanand, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, India

Historians

• Dr. Sooranad Kunjan Pillai - Historian and Linguist
• Dr. A. Sreedhara Menon - Famous Historian and Ex Registrar - Kerala University

Policy makers/administrators

• C. V. Devan Nair - Third President of Singapore
• P.G.N. Unnithan - Last Dewan of Travancore.
• Raja Kesavadas - Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja.
• K. P. S. Menon (senior) - a.k.a Kumara Padmanabha Shivashankar Menon - India's first Foreign secretary.
• Panampilly Govinda Menon Chief Minister of Trvancore and Kochi and Union Minister for Law and Railways
• Prakash Karat - General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM).
• K M Chandrasekhar - Cabinet Secretary to the Indian Govt.
• S. Ramachandran Pillai - Politburo Member of the CPM.
• Shivshankar Menon - India's Former Foreign Secretary.Currently National Security Advisor.
• Mayankote Kelath Narayanan - Former National Security Advisor.
• Vijay K. Nambiar - The Chef de Cabinet (Chief of Staff) in the U.N. He holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General.
• Shashi Tharoor - Former U.N. Under-Secretary General & Former India's Minister of State for External Affairs
• V. K. Krishna Menon - First Defence Minister of India, High commissioner of India in London, former cabinet minister.
• V. P. Menon - The man behind the reunification of India with Sardar Patel
• C. Achutha Menon- Former Chief Minister of Kerala
• Lakshmi N. Menon - First Woman Foreign Minister of India (1957–66).
• Vinod C Menon - Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
• N. R. Pillai - India's first secretary of external affairs
• K R Menon - India's First Finance Secrtary-http://republicnotes.indian-coins.com/1%20rupee/1.K.R.K.Menon.htm
• Dileep Nair - Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services.
• Vijay Nair - One of the nominees of the Leader of the Opposition to the Senate of Fiji.
• Damodran Nair - Former MP, Fiji.
• C. M. Padmanabhan Nair - Indian politician
• V. K. B. Nair - First South Indian to head UP Police.
• A. M. Nair - a.k.a Nair San, freedom fighter
• Gengadharan Nair - Malaysian High Court judge
• P. K. Vasudevan Nair - Former Chief Minister of Kerala And Politician.
• E. K. Nayanar - He is the Longest Serving Chief Minister of Kerala.
• K. Karunakaran - 4 time chief minister of Kerala, one time Indian union minister for Industry
• M. G. Ramachandran - a.k.a. M.G.R, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977-1987. Tamil Superstar, producer and politician.
• R. Balakrishna Pillai - Kerala State Minister for various ministries
• A. K. Gopalan - Former opposition leader of Loksabha.
• Pattom A. Thanu Pillai - Former Chief Minister of Kerala
• Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai - First Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin.
• C. Achutha Menon - Former Chief Minister of Kerala
• K. P. Karunakara Menon - Ex President of Nair Service Society
• Ramesh Chennithala - Indian National Congress party leader, President Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
• P. Krishna Pillai - Kerala's First Communist.Founder of the Communist movement in Kerala, popularly known as "Sakhavu".
• O. Rajagopal - First BJP leader from Kerala to became union minister
• N. P. Nayar - Freedom fighter and Administrator, Azad Hind Dal
• Jyotindra Nath Dixit - Diplomat,Foreign secretary And Former National Security Advisor.
• N. Sreekantan Nair - Founder member of the State Congress, Politician, Freedom Fighter, Trade Unionist
• K. Jayakumar - Currently the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of kerala
• Kavalam Madhava Panikkar a.k.a Sardar K M Panikker - Was an Indian Administrator and Diplomat, Prime Minister of Patiala and Kashmir Kingdoms.
• K.G.Marar - Leader of Kerala unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for over two decades, until his death in 1995.
• M.T.Ramesh - State General Secretary of BJP in Kerala.
• Nirupama Rao - Currently Foreign Secretary of India.
• A. R. Pillai - Freedom Fighter who worked in Germany.
• G. K. Pillai - Currently Home Secretary of India.
• B. Sandhya - I.G of Kerala Police.
• Jayaram Padikkal - Former DGP of Kerala Police.
• K. Sankaranarayanan - Currently Governor of Jharkhand.Former Minister of Kerala.
• K.P.R. Gopalan - He was Freedom Fighter and Communist Leader.
• Kodiyeri Balakrishnan - Politburo member of CPM.Currently Home and Tourism Minister.
• M.V. Raghavan - Founder of CMP.Former minister of Kerala.
• G. Sudhakaran - Politician and Minister.
• P. K. Sreemathy - Politician and Presently Health Minister.
• Thennala G. Balakrishna Pillai - Politician And Member of Rajya Sabha.
• N. K. Premachandran - Politician And Minister.
• M. Vijayakumar - Politician And Minister.
• K. Govindan - Deputy Managing Director (retd), State Bank of India
• V. Balakrishna Eradi - Former Justice of Supreme Court.Former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.
• P. Govinda Pillai - a veteran of Communist Party of India, marxist leader and ideologue from Kerala
• Madhav Das Nalapat - holder of the UNESCO Peace Chair.
• K. Muraleedharan - Politician.
• R.B. Sreekumar - Former Gujarat State Director General of Police.
• Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan - Politician.
• K.C. Venugopal - Indian Politician.
• K Vijay Kumar - Former Chief of Tamil Nadu Special Task Force.
• Vaikom Viswan - Politician.
• Koliyakode N. Krishnan Nair - Ex. MLA, Politician and President Kerala State Cooperative Bank.

Military personnel

See also: List of notable Nairs in the Indian Army

• Lt General K P Candeth - Lieutenant General in the Indian Army during Indo-Pak war.
• Captain Lakshmi Sehgal (INA) - An ex-officer of the INA and the Minister of Women's affairs in the Azad Hind Government.
• Lt General Satish Nambiar - First Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, the UNPF in the former Yugoslavia.
• Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan - Ashok Chakra recipient.
• Lt Colonel Mohanlal
• Col. Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair - Ashok Chakra recipient.
• Lt General G.M. Nair - Military Secretary of India since February 2010.
• Air Marshal Narayan Menon - former Air Officer-in-Charge (Personnel) with the Indian Air Force.
• Maj Gen V.N. Parameswaran Pillai - Last GOC of Travancore Nair Army.
• Lt Cdr Rahul Nair - Part of Sagar Pawan team, Indian Navy.
• Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan - Ashok Chakra recipient

Distinguished Police Personnel

• K Chandrasekharan Nair - Ex Inspector General Of Kerala, in whose name Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in Triavndrum is dedicated for his Services to Sports.
• K Shankaran Nair - Former Chief of RAW (Indian Intelligence Agency) and Member of Imperial Police Service
• C M Radhakrishnan Nair - Former Chief of Central Intelligence Agency (CBI)
• K Mohandas - Former Director General of Police, Tamilnadu

Martial arts experts

• Thacholi Othenan - Better known as Udayana Kurup of Thacholi Manikoth House. Legendary hero from North Kerala, who lived in the 16th century. Belonged to the Nair tharavadu of Manikkoth.
• Putumanna Kandaru Menon - Chaver from Valluvanadu who nearly succeeded in assassinating the Zamorin.
• Kadathanadan Ambadi - Legendary hero from North Kerala.

Royal Lineages

• Zamorin - Maharajah of Ernād, the largest Kingdom in pre-independent Kerala. Lost power when Tipu Sultan invaded Malabar in 1766.
• Maharajah of Travancore - Ruler of the second largest Kingdom in pre-independent Kerala. Known as Nāyar of Venād till 13th century AD, and after that the Raja of Venād.
• Maharajah of Kolathunād - Better known as Kolathiri. Believed to be the representatives of the ancient Nāyar kings, perhaps the oldest aristocracy in the world.
• Valluvakonāthiri Moopil Nāyar - Former ruler of Valluvanad.
• Raja of Kadathanad - Former ruler of Kadathanad.
• Njavakkatt Kartha - Former ruler of Meenachil
• Kavalappara Swaroopam - Ruler was known as Kavalappara Moopil Nair.
• Nedungadi - Former ruler of Nedunganad (South Malabar).
• Ettuveetil Pillamar - Before their destruction ruled most of the South Travancore.

Film actors and others

• R. Madhavan Nair - a.k.a. Madhu, famous Malayalam in early Malayalam Cinema.
• V. Gopinathan Nair - a.k.a. Bharath Gopi, Malayalam film actor.
• Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair - simply known as Mohanlal, Malayalam Superstar. Hindi and Tamil film actor.Won Padma Shri Award 2001.
• Adoor Gopalakrishnan - Six-time National Award winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Director of PFI.
• Dileep - Malayalam Superstar
• N. N. Pillai - A legend in Malayalam theater. Was a playwright, actor, director and orator.
• Balachandra Menon - Malayalam film director, actor, script writer, lyricist, and producer.
• Suresh Gopi - Malayalam - action hero. Birth name: Suresh G. Nair
• Vijayaraghavan - Malayalam film actor.
• Suraj Venjaramood - Malayalam film actor.
• Bharathan - Film director.
• P. Padmarajan Pillai - a.k.a. Padmarajan Film director, Script Writer, Novelist.
• G. Aravindan Nair - a.k.a. Aravindan, National Award winning Film director.
• Navya Nair - Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada film actress
• K. S. Chithra - Six time National film awards winning singer.
• Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair - Malayalam film actor.
• Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair - First Malayalam film Superstar in 1950s.Won Padma Shri Award1973.
• Karamana Janardanan Nair - Malayalam film actor.
• Jayaraaj Rajasekharan Nair - Malayalam film director
• Anaitha Nair - Indian actress known for her role in Chak De! India.
• K. V. M. Krishnan Nair - a.k.a. Jayan, one of the most famous Malayalam Superstars.
• Oduvil Unnikrishna Menon - a.k.a. Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Malayalam film actor.
• Vineeth - Malayalam film actor
• Travancore sisters - Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini Some of the most famous of classical Malayalam actresses, especially Padmini
• P. N. Menon - Film maker
• Sreekumaran Thampi - Lyricist, director, producer and scenarist in Malayalam Film Industry
• Biju Menon - Malayalam And Tamil Film Actor
• Unni Menon - Singer in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil
• Kay Kay Menon - Hindi Film Actor
• Shweta Menon - Hindi and Malayalam Actress, Model
• Renuka Menon - Malayalam, Tamil And Kannada Actress
• Parvathy Omanakuttan Nair - Former Miss India & Miss World 2nd Place
• Lakshmi Menon - Famous Indian American Model.
• Sheetal Menon - Hindi film Actress and Model
• Parvathi Menon - South Indian actress
• Parvathy Jayaram - South Indian actress
• Balan K. Nair - Malayalam film actor
• Raghuvaran - Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi film actor.
• K. Bhaskaran Nair - a.k.a. Adoor Bhasi, Malayalam film actor.
• Anoop Menon - Malayalam film actor
• M. G. Radhakrishnan - Senior music director in the South Indian film and music industries.
• M. G. Sreekumar - Two time National Award winning Indian playback singer and music director.
• M. G. Ramachandran Nair - a.k.a. M.G.R. Tamil producer and politician. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977-1987.
• Bhavana Balachandran - Famous South Indian actress
• K. B. Ganesh Kumar - Malayalam film actor
• Indrajith Sukumaran Nair - Malayalam film actor, son of Sukumaran Nair.
• Prithviraj Sukumaran Nair - Malayalam film actor, son of Sukumaran Nair.
• Sukumaran Nair - Malayalam film actor. one of the most famous Malayalam Superstars
• K Sukumar Nair - a.k.a. Babu - Indian Film Director - acclaimed feature film on the life of Freedom Fighter Bhagat Singh (Shaheed-E-Azam).
• P. V. Jagadish Kumar - a.k.a. Jagdish, Malayalam film actor.
• K.Thulasidharan Nair - a.k.a. Kollam Thulasi, Malayalam film actor.
• Murali Krishna Pillai - a.k.a. Murali, Malayalam film actor.
• Nedumudi Venu - Malayalam film actor
• Aranmula Ponnamma - South Indian actress
• Saikumar Sreedharan Nair - Malayalam film actor
• Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair - Malayalam film writer
• Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair - Malayalam film actor and Kathakali expert
• Shivam Nair - Indian film director
• Priyadarshan Nair - Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi film director
• N. Sankaran Nair - Malayalam film director
• Krishnakumar Kunnath- K.K - Leading Indian playback singer,He is prominent Singer in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu
• Madhupal - Actor, Director and story writer
• Major Ravi - Film Director (Former Commando in Indian Army)
• Shishir Kurup- Indian American actor
• Rajeev Menon- Tamil film director
• Gautham Menon- Tamil film director, producer
• Suresh Menon- Hindi film Actor
• Sindhu Menon- Malayalam and Kannada actress
• P. Jayachandran - Playback Singer, Actor.
• M. N. Nambiar - Tamil film actor
• Narain (actor) - Malayalam and Tamil actor.
• Renjith - Malayalam film director
• Shaji Kailas - Malayalam film director
• G. Venugopal - Malayalam Playback Singer
• Madhu Balakrishnan - Indian playback singer
• Sujatha Mohan - Indian playback singer, Grand Daughter of Paravur TK Narayana Pillai
• P. Leela - Indian playback singer
• Jyotsna Radhakrishnan - Malayalam playback singer
• Shweta Mohan - Indian playback singer
• Asha G Menon - Malayalam playback singer
• Gopal Menon - Documentary filmmaker
• Sankaradi - Malayalam film actor
• Narendra Prasad - Malayalam film actor
• Sukumari - Malayalam actress
• M. Jayachandran - Malayalam Music Director
• M. G. Soman - Malayalam actor, one of the most famous Superstars
• Shobhana - Famous Indian Actress and Dancer
• K. P. A. C. Lalitha - Famous Malayalam Actress
• Monisha - Famous Malayalam Actress
• Revathy - Famous Malayalam and Tamil Actress
• Rhea Pillai - Indian model
• Shyamaprasad - Malayalam film director.
• Ashokan - Malayalam Film Actor
• Shankar - One of the Superstar of Malayalam Cinema in 1980s
• Radha - Kannada,Tamil,Malayalam and Hindi Actress
• Ambika - Tamil,Malayalam and Kannada Actress
• Maniyanpilla Raju - Malayalam Film Actor and Producer
• Venu Nagavalli - Malayalam Film Actor and Director
• Anuradha Menon - Is an Indian television Actress and theatre artist.Lola Kutty,the Popular Channel V VJ is her alter ego
• Undapakru – Malayalam Flim Actor.
• Archana Nair - Model and Miss Kerala 2009.
• Jayabharathy - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Karthika Nair - Telugu Film Actress.
• Ranjini Haridas - Model and Miss Kerala2000.
• Bhama - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Vinayan - Malayalam Film Director.
• Anjali Menon - Malayalam Film Director.
• Suresh Unnithan - Malayalam Film Director.
• Nithya Menon - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Jyothirmayi - Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu,and English Actress.
• Urvashi (actress) - Malayalam actress.
• Kalaranjini - Malayalam Actress.
• Kalpana - Malayalam Actress.
• Manju Pillai - Malayalam Film And Television Serial Actress.
• Seema (actress) - Malayalam Actress.
• P.Vijayakrishnan - Film critic,writer,member of Indian Film Censor Board, Secretary of Kerala Children's Film Society First National Award winner for Best Book on Cinema,Jury member,Malayalam Film Director.
• Murali Nair - Indian Film Director And Screenwriter. 1999 Cannes Film Festival.
• Rajasenan - Malayalam Film Director.
• Renji Panicker - Malayalam Film Script Writer And Director.
• Viji Thampi - Malayalam Film Director.
• Prashant Pillai - Music Producer.
• V.M. Vinu - Malayalam Film Director.
• Mallika Sukumaran - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Bindu Panicker - Malayalam Film Actress.
• V. G. Muralikrishnan - Malayalam Film Actor.
• Janardhanan (actor) - Malayalam Film Actor.
• Adoor Bhavani - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Adoor Pankajam - Malayalam Film Actress.
• Bichu Thirumala - An Indian Lyricist.
• Suchitra Pillai-Malik - actress, model, anchor, singer and veejay.
• Santhosh Sivan - Indian Film Director and Cinematographer.
• Sangeeth Sivan - Indian Film Director.
• Sobha - Tamil, Malayalam actress. National Award winner.
• Priyanka Nair - Malayalam And Tamil Film Actress.

Artists and entertainers

• Mrinalini Sarabhai - Classical Dancer, Vadakkath Tharavadu, Anakkara.
• Smitha Rajan - leading exponent of Mohiniyattam.
• L. Athira Krishna - Violin prodigy
• K. S. Pillai - Political cartoonist
• Ash Nair - Malaysian alternative musician
• Sunanda Nair - leading exponent of Mohiniyattam
• Irayimman Thampi - Famous Carnatic musician as well as a music composer.
• Guru Gopinath - Epic personality of Indian dancing, Founder of Kerala Natanam.
• Gopinath Muthukad - Is a world famous magician
• Sreevalsan - Is an Indian Carnatic vocalist
• Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma - epoch-making Mohiniyattam danseuse from Kerala.

Kathakali artists

• Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair - Prominent Kathakali exponent.Won Padma Shri Award 1971.
• Vazhenkada Vijayan Nair - Prominent Kathakali exponent.
• Kottakkal Sivaraman - Famous for his Stree Vesham (female role) in Katahkali
• 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 Ramankutty Nair - Kathakali dancer
• Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair - One of the most renowned Kathakali artistes of any time.Won Padma Shri Award1970.
• Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair - One of the most revolutionary Kathakali artistes in the history of the classical dance-drama.
• Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar - Thayambaka expert.
• Chenganoor Raman Pillai - Prominent Kathakali exponent.
• Guru Kunchu Kurup - Famous Kathakali exponent And Padma Shri Awardee.
• Vadakke Manalath Govindan Nair - a.k.a Kalamandalam Gopi, one of the most famous Kathakali artistes from Kerala.

Renowned Professors and Educationists

• Prof. Dr. N R Madhava Menon - Founder National Law School University - Bangalore, India
• Rukmini Bhaya Nair - Professor of Linguistics and English at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Business-persons and CEOs

• Sameer Nair - CEO of NDTV Imagine.
• Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai - Founder of Indian coffee houses in Kerala
• Dr. Jai Menon - Director Technology and Customer Service at Bharti Airtel, and Group CIO Bharti Enterprises
• Bhaskar Menon - Chairman & CEO of EMI Group.
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar - CEO of Asianet-Independent Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka.
• G. A. Menon - Founder of Toonz Animation USA,Chairman of 14 companies across the globe
• C. P. Krishnan Nair - Founder of the Leela Group of Hotels.
• Rajmohan Pillai - An Indian Businessman,Currently the Chairman of Beta Industries.
• Sunalini Menon - Asia's First Women Professional in the field of Coffee Tasting.Coffee quality Control Export.
• Gopala Pillai - Former Chairman And Managing Director of FACT.
• Mohanlal - Film Productions,Star Hotels,Seafood Exporting Company,Etc.
• M V Nikesh Kumar - CEO of Indiavision.
• Mavila Vishwanathan Nair - Chairman and Managing Director of Union Bank of India.
• Priyadarshan-Film production,ad film company etc.
• Vineet Nayar - CEO and wholetime Member of the Board of Directors of HCL Technologies.
• Dileep (actor) - Film Producer.
• E. Sreedharan - Managing Director of DMRC.
• Dileep Nair - Former Managing Director of DBS Bank,Singapore and UN Under Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services.
• Dr. Suresh Menon - Chief Scientific Officer, Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd.

Sports & athletics

• Sreesanth Santhakumaran Nair - Indian cricketer.
• V. P. Sathyan - Former Captain of the India national football team.
• Jeevandran Nair - Malaysian cricketer.
• Sreekumar Nair - Indian cricketer.
• Abhishek Nayar - Indian cricketer.
• U. Vimal Kumar - Indian Badminton Player, Winner of French Open 1983 & 84.
• P Balakrishnan Nair - Former Malaysian cricketer.
• Ramesh Menon - Former Malaysian cricketer.
• Sachin Nair - Indian cricketer.
• Vinan Nair - Indian cricketer.
• Rajagopal Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Narendra Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Satish Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Nitin Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Renjith Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Prashanth Menon - Indian cricketer.
• Krishnan Nair Ajayan - Indian Football player.
• O. M. Nambiar - A Renowned Indian athletics coach.Who was awarded Dronacharya award in 1985.
• Aneil Nambiar - Player, Middlesex and Oxfordshire.
• Anil Nair - Cypriot cricketer. Part of the squad which participated in European 3rd Division Championships 2007.
• Roopa Unnikrishnan - Indian Rifle Shooter
• C. Jayashankar Menon - Indian Basketball player. First Asian Allstar player from India.
• Dinesh Nair - One of the seven Assistant Referees from India given International recognition by FIFA.[3]
• Balram Nair - Retired football referee from Fiji.
• Nitan Menon - Bahraini cricketer.
• Divyesh Nambiar - Bahraini cricketer.
• Anjali Nair - Qatari cricketer.
• Atul Menon - Qatari cricketer.
• Monisha Nair - Omani cricketer.
• Arjun Menon - Coach of Singapore U-15 cricket team.
• Adhir Menon - Player, Singapore U-15 cricket team.
• Madhav Menon - Player, Hong Kong U-15 cricket team.
• Rajeev Nambiar - Ranji Trophy player for Services.
• Kodoth Padhinhareveettil Krishnakumar Nambiar - Ranji Trophy player for Kerala.
• Jayamohan Thampi - Former Ranji Trophy player for Kerala.
• V.Suresh - Former Ranji Trophy player for Kerala.
• Deepak Menon - Malaysian cricketer from Malacca.
• Anil Nair - Cypriot cricketer. Part of the squad which participated in European 3rd Division Championships 2007.
• Dilip Nair - Player, German national cricket team. Part of the squad which participated in ECC Championships 2000.
• Rajeev Kumar Radhakrishnan Nair - Player, Indonesian national cricket team. Took part in 2007 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy.
• Arunjith Sivadasan Nair - Indian Athlete.
• Sanjeev Nair - Indian Athlete.
• Nirmala Nair - Indian Athlete.
• Shashi Menon - Tennis player. Along with Amritraj brothers, took India to World Cup Finals for the second time in 1974.
• Sandeep Nair - Player, Fiji national futsal team.

Mobsters and Anti-socials

• Bada Rajan - An Indian Mobster and Underworld Don from Mumbai. He was the Co-Founder of Mumbai underworld.Chhota Rajan was his Chief Lieutenant.
• Sukumara Kurup - One of the most wanted criminal
• Subhash Bhaskar Nair - One of the most wanted criminal in Gujarat. Killed in encounter with police.

See also

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

References

• Nair Academy of Information Research and Services