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

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.^[1]
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.^[2]
Anil Nair - Cypriot cricketer. Part of the squad which participated in European 3rd Division Championships 2007.
Roopa Unnikrishnan - Indian Rifle Shooter ^[3]
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.

References

Nair Academy of Information Research and Services

[1] ttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=3ecGANRRqssC&pg=PR6

[2] ttp://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/31783.html

[3] ttp://www.roopaonline.com

[1]

[2]

[3]

Spiritual Leaders

Freedom Fighters and Political Activists

Writers and Journalists

Scientists and academicians

Historians

Policy makers/administrators

Military personnel

Distinguished Police Personnel

Martial arts experts

Royal Lineages

Film actors and others

Artists and entertainers

Kathakali artists

Renowned Professors and Educationists

Business-persons and CEOs

Sports & athletics

Mobsters and Anti-socials

See also

References