List of Nairs

This list of Nairs contains prominent members of the Nair community of southern India. (However the list is not complete)

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

Military personnel

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

Artists and Writers

• Irayimman Thampi – Carnatic musician and music composer
• Mohanlal - Actor
• Prithviraj - Actor
• Sureshgopi - Actor
• Dileep - Actor
• Ranjitha born SriValli - Actress from Menon sub caste
• Archana Nair - Miss Kerala 2009
• Chandran Nair - a poet
• Mira Nair - film director and producer

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 1971

Business Person

• C. P. Krishnan Nair- the Founder-Chairman of the Leela Group of Hotels
• Chandran Nair
• Rajmohan Pillai
• Dr. Shan Nair - Nuclear Physicist and Founder of Nair & Co.

See also

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