# List of Nairs

This is a list of notable members of the Nair community of southern India.

## Dynasties

* Kingdom of Travancore
* Zamorin of Calicut
* Thekkumkur Kingdom
* Vadakkumkur Kingdom
* Chirakkal Raja
* Porlathiri
* Kingdom of Venad
* Valluvanad
* Ernād
* Palakkad
* Kingdom of Kolathunadu
* Kavalappara Moopil Nayar
* Paliam Swaroopam

## Spiritual leaders

* Chattampi Swamikal – Hindu Sage and Social Reformer
* Swami Chinmayananda – Spiritual leader and founding father of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
* Tapovan Maharaj, a Hindu sage and Vedanta Scholar.
* Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi, Founder of Anantha Mahasabha.
* Devasahayam Pillai – Roman Catholic Saint canonized by the Church.

## Film and media
### Actresses

* Shobhana Chandrakumar Pillai, Indian actress and bharatanatyam dancer
* Jayabharathi, Indian actress, two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress
* Urvashi, Prominent lead actress of the 1980s and 1990s
* Kalaranjini, Indian actress
* Parvathy Jayaram, Indian actress
* Ragini, Indian actress and dancer
* Padmini, Indian actress and trained bharatanatyam dancer
* Lalitha, Indian actress and dancer
* Ambika, Indian actress
* Revathi, Indian actress
* Seema, Indian actress
* Kalpana, Indian actress
* Sithara, Indian actress
* Suchitra Pillai, Indian actress who mainly appear in Bollywood films
* Renuka Menon, Indian actress
* Shwetha Menon, Indian actress
* Divya Pillai, Indian actress
* Sukumari, Indian actress
* Mallika Sukumaran, Indian actress and businesswomen
* Bhavana, Indian actress who mainly appear in South-Indian Films
* Aranmula Ponnamma, Indian actress
* Bhama, Indian actress
* Ananya, Indian actress
* Anusree, Indian actress and model
* Samyuktha, Indian actress
* Jyothirmayi, Indian actress
* Shobha Mohan, Indian actress
* Jalaja, Indian actress who received Kerala State Film Award for best actress in 1981
* Bindu Panicker, Indian actress
* Niranjana Anoop, Indian actress and model
* Neeta Pillai, Indian actress and model
* Ambili Devi, Indian television actress
* Aarsha Chandini Baiju, Indian actress and model
* Iswarya Menon, Indian actress and model
* Kumari Thankam, lead actress during the late 1950s and 1960s
* Aparna Balamurali, Indian actress
* Praveena, Indian actress
* Asha Sharath, Indian actress and dancer
* Keerthy Suresh, Indian actress who mainly appear in Tamil films
* Sshivada, Indian actress
* Mahima Nambiar, Indian actress and model
* Sangita Madhavan, Indian actress
* Gauthami Nair, Indian actress
* Priyanka Nair, Indian actress
* Rajasree, Indian actress
* Lakshmi Menon, Indian actress who mainly appear in Tamil films
* Nithya Menen, Indian actress and singer
* Karthika Nair, Indian actress
* Radha, Indian actress
* Valsala Menon, Indian actress
* Devi Ajith, Indian actress
* Uma Nair, Indian television actress
* Aparna Nair, Indian actress
* Santhi Mayadevi, Indian actress

### Actors

* Mohanlal, Popular Indian actor, who received Padma Shri in 2001, Padma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highest civilian honours
* Suresh Gopi, Indian actor and politician
* Jayan, Indian actor, ex-naval officer and stunt performer of 1970s and 1980s
* Janardhanan Pillai, Indian actor and former Indian Air force personnel
* Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Indian actor who received best actor award in 1970
* Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema
* C. V. Raman Pillai, Indian actor, Novelist, playwright, journalist and social activist
* Muraleedharan Pillai, Indian actor, stage and television actor and author
* Madhavan nair, Indian actor, director, producer, former college lecturer and former film studio owner
* Balachandra Menon, Indian actor, director and script writer
* Sai Kumar, Indian actor
* M. N. Nambiar, Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema, known mostly for his villain roles
* Bharat Gopy, Indian actor, producer and director
* Dileep, Indian actor, producer and businessman
* Nedumudi Venu, Indian actor who won three National Film Awards and Six Kerala State Film Awards
* Narendra Prasad, Indian actor
* Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Indian actor, author and film director
* Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indian actor and director
* Vijayaraghavan, Indian actor
* N. N. Pillai, Indian actor and drama artist
* M. G. Soman, Indian actor
* Raghuvaran, Indian actor
* Vineeth, Indian actor and dancer
* Vinu Mohan, Indian actor
* Krishna, Indian actor
* Sukumaran, Indian actor and producer
* Santhosh K. Nayar, Indian actor
* Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju, Indian actor
* Vini Vishwa Lal, Indian actor and screenwriter
* Sudev Nair, Indian actor and model
* Indrajith Sukumaran, Indian actor
* Anoop Menon, Indian actor
* Rajeev Pillai, Indian actor and model
* Unni Mukundan, Indian actor
* Chandunath G Nair, Indian actor and model
* T. P. Madhavan, Indian actor
* Kollam G. K. Pillai, Indian actor
* Balan K. Nair, Indian actor
* Adoor Bhasi, Indian actor
* Biju Menon, Indian actor
* K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Indian actor and politician
* Kay Kay Menon, Indian actor
* Gautham Vasudev Menon, Indian actor
* Govind Padmasoorya, Indian actor
* Anu Mohan, Indian actor
* Vanchiyoor Madhavan Nair, actor in Malayalam movies of the 1960s and 1970s
* T. K. Balachandran, Indian actor
* Gokul Suresh, Indian actor
* Sankaradi, Indian actor
* S. P. Pillai, Indian actor
* Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Indian actor
* Karamana Janardanan Nair, Indian actor
* Sudheesh, Indian actor
* Krishna Kumar, Indian actor and politician
* Adithya Menon, Indian actor
* Vijay Babu, Indian actor
* Jayan Cherthala, Indian actor
* Baiju Santhosh, Indian actor
* Narain, Indian actor
* Jagadish, Indian actor
* Suraj Venjaramoodu, Indian actor
* Sajan Surya, Indian television actor
* Rajeev Parameshwar, Indian television actor
* Jayakumar Parameswaran Pillai, Indian television actor
* Sreejith Vijay, Indian actor

### Models and dancers

* Rhea Pillai, Indian model
* Methil Devika, Indian dancer and researcher
* Vineeth, Indian dancer and actor
* Parvathy Omanakuttan, Indian model
* Asha Sharath, Indian dancer and actress
* Parvati Nair, Indian model
* Thulasi Nair, Indian model

### Directors, producers, and script writers

* Padmarajan, Indian film-maker and screenwriter
* Ranjith, Indian film director and screenwriter
* Thoppil Bhasi, Indian playwright and screenwriter
* K. Ravindranathan Nair, Indian film producer
* Bharathan, Indian filmmaker
* Priyadarshan, Indian film director and screenwriter
* Shaji Kailas, Indian film director and screenwriter
* Rajasenan, Indian film director and former actor
* Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Indian film director and script writer
* Rajeev Govindan, Indian writer, lyricist and producer
* Adoor gopalakrishnan, Indian film director
* B. Unnikrishnan, Indian film director
* Sachy, Indian screenwriter and director
* Sujith Vaassudev, Indian cinematographer
* Anjali Menon, Indian film-maker and screenwriter
* K. Madhu, Indian filmmaker
* P. Chandrakumar, Indian director and cinematographer
* Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, Indian film director
* Balu Kiriyath, Indian film director
* Sreekumaran Thampi, Indian film director
* Major Ravi, Indian actor and film director
* Sivan, Indian cinematographer and film director
* Sangeeth Sivan, Indian film director and screenwriter
* Santosh Sivan, Indian cinematographer
* N Sankaran Nair, Indian director
* K. Padmanabhan Nair, Indian film director and script writer
* Raja Krishna Menon, Indian film writer

### Musicians

* M. G. Sreekumar, Indian playback singer and composer
* K. S. Chithra, Indian playback singer
* Sujatha Mohan, Indian playback singer
* Shweta Mohan, Indian playback singer
* M. Jayachandran, Indian composer
* P. Jayachandran, Indian playback singer and actor
* Arjun Menon, Indian playback singer
* Neha Nair, Indian playback singer and composer
* Siddharth Menon, Indian playback singer and actor
* Sreevalsan J. Menon, Indian vocalist

## Journalism

* Sreekandan Nair, media personality, television anchor, veteran journalist and managing director of Flowers TV and 24 News.
* Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan, journalist of Malayalam Cinema.
* Nisha Pillai, Indian journalist based in London
* Udaya Tara Nayar, film journalist in India
* P. Govinda Pillai, former chief editor of Deshabhimani
* K. N. P. Kurup, Indian journalist and politician
* C. Karunakara Menon, Indian journalist and politician
* Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, Indian journalist and writer
* Suresh Menon, sports writer

## Social sciences

* Lakshmi Sahgal, popularly known as "Captain Lakshmi", was the leader of "Rani of Jhansi Regiment" of Indian National Army
* Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai, social reformer
* N. P. Nayar, freedom fighter
* K. P. Kesava Menon, Founder of Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam Daily
* K. Kelappan, freedom fighter, popularly known as "Kerala Gandhi"
* Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai, an Indian social reformer, freedom fighter, and the founder of the Nair Service Society (NSS)
* K. Chandrasekhara Pillai, social reformer
* Aiyappan Pillai Madhavan Nair, was closely involved with Japan in the Indian independence movement at 1920s-1940s
* Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair, social reformer and Gandhian.
* A. C. N. Nambiar, Indian Nationalist
* K. P. Karunakara Menon, social reformer
* Panampilly Govinda Menon, freedom fighter
* K. Kumar, one of the earliest socio-political leaders who have brought Gandhi's message and the spirit of the national movement to the erstwhile Travancore State.
* K. B. Menon, social reformer.
* Viji Thampi, social activist and Indian film director.

## Arts and literature

* Sugathakumari, Indian poet and activist
* O. N. V. Kurup, Indian Poet and lyricist
* Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, Indian historian and linguist
* Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup, Sanskrit and Malayalam scholar
* Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Indian novelist
* P. Kunhiraman Nair, Indian writer
* M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Indian author, screenplay writer and film director
* Vallathol Narayana Menon, Indian Poet
* N. Krishna Pillai, Indian dramatist and literary critic
* Nalapat Narayana Menon, Indian writer
* Kurissery Gopala Pillai, Indian writer
* Oyyarath Chandu Menon, Indian writer
* Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Indian writer
* Aiyappan Pillai, Indian writer, politician and lawyer
* Nagavally R. S. Kurup, Indian writer
* S. Guptan Nair, Indian scholar
* Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, kathakali artist
* Oduvil Kunhikrishna Menon, Indian poet
* Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, Malayalam writer, art and literary critic and journalist
* C. N. Sreekantan Nair, Indian writer
* Vadakke kuruppath Narayana Menon, prominent art critics
* K. Kumar, Indian orator, reformer and writer
* P. C. Kuttikrishna Menon, Indian writer
* Omchery N. N. Pillai, Indian Malayalam-language playwright and novelist
* Edasseri Govindan Nair, Indian poet and critic
* Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Indian writer and actor
* M. P. Narayana Pillai, Indian writer
* Ramachandran Unnithan, kathakali artist
* Anita Nair, English-language Indian novelist
* Manu S. Pillai, Indian author and historian
* B. Jeyamohan, Indian author
* Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup, Indian poet
* B. Sujatha Devi, Indian writer
* Edappally Raghavan Pillai, Indian poet
* G. Kumara Pillai, Indian writer
* Karoor Neelakanta Pillai, Indian writer
* Erumeli Parameswaran Pillai, Indian writer
* Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai, Indian lexicographer
* M. K. Menon, Indian writer
* Asha Menon, Indian writer
* Karthika Naïr, French-Indian poet and dancer

## Bureaucrats and administrators
### India

* V K Krishna Menon, Veteran Diplomat and Cabinet Minister, former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
* V. P. Menon, Constitutional Adviser and Political Reforms Commissioner to the last three viceroys during British rule in India.
* Omana Kunjamma, First Native Female Magistrate in India.
* N. R. Pillai, 1st Cabinet Secretary of India (1950–1953).
* K. P. S. Menon Sr., 1st Foreign Secretary of India (1948–1952).
* M. K. Vellodi, 4th Defence Secretary of India (1953–1957) and the 3rd Cabinet Secretary of India (1957–1958)
* Gopal Krishna Pillai, 15th Home Secretary of India (2009–2011).
* K. P. S. Menon Jr., 15th Foreign Secretary of India (1987–1989).
* Jyotindra Nath Dixit, 18th Foreign Secretary of India (1991–1994) and 2nd National Security Adviser (2004-2005).
* M. K. Narayanan, 3rd National Security Advisor of India (2005-2010) and former Director of Intelligence Bureau.
* Shivshankar Menon, 27th Foreign Secretary of India (2006–2009) and 4th National Security Adviser(2010-2014).
* K. M. Chandrasekhar, 29th Cabinet Secretary of India (2007–2011).
* K. K. Nayar (formerly K. Karunakaran Pillai), former Indian Administrative Service officer of Uttar Pradesh.
* Thottuvelil Krishna Pillai Ayappan Nair, former Indian Administrative Service and adviser to the Prime Minister of India.
* Meppally Keshava Pillai Krishnankutty Nair, Indian Administrative Service officer.
* Ramakrishna Pillai Ramachandran Nair, Indian Administrative Service officer.
* K. Sankaran Nair, 2nd Director of the Research and Analysis Wing
* K Vijayakumar, Former Director General of CRPF. Senior National Security Officer and Advisor to Home Ministry.
* T.P Sreenivasan, diplomat and former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Indian High Commissioner in Kenya.
* M. P. M. Menon, former ambassador of India to Bahrain, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, and Brazil.
* C. Madhavan Nair, former advocate-general of Madras Presidency.
* P. K. Narayana Panicker, former general secretary and president of NSS.
* Sardar K. M. Panikkar, historian, novelist, and diplomat.
* Vinod C. Menon, Member of the National Disaster Management Authority of India.

### Outside India

* Ranj Pillai, Canadian politician, who has been the 10th premier of Yukon and Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party.
* Gopinath Pillai, Singaporean bureaucrat and businessman.
* Sundaresh Menon, 4th and current Chief justice of Singapore.
* Hri Kumar Nair SC, Singaporean Lawyer serving as the Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore (2017–present). former Member of Parliament representing the Thomson division of Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC (2006–2015).
* Chandran Nair, Singaporean Poet and former Director and Mediator of UNESCO in Paris.
* Gita Gopinath, Current first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2022–present), previously served as Chief Economist of the IMF (2019–2022).
* Vanu Gopala Menon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, personal representative of the President of Singapore.

### Members of the United Nations

* Chandran Nair, civil servant with UNESCO (1981–2004) (Singapore)
* Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2001–2007) (India)
* Vijay K. Nambiar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2012), Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations, special advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations (2006) (India),
* Vanu Gopala Menon, the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations (2004–2011). (Singapore)

## Politicians
### Diwan

* Raja Kesavadas, Diwan of Travancore Kingdom (1789–1798). Known as the "Maker of Modern Alleppey".
* Velu Thampi Dalawa, Diwan of Travancore Kingdom (1802–1809) and freedom fighter.
* Nanoo Pillai, Diwan of Travancore Kingdom (1877–1880).
* M. Krishnan Nair, Diwan of Travancore Kingdom (1914–1920)
* P.G.N Unnithan, Diwan of Travancore Kingdom (1947–1948)
* Paliath Achan, former hereditary prime minister of Cochin Kingdom.
* Edamana Sankara Menon, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1830–1834).
* T. Sankunni Menon, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1860–1879).
* T. Govindan Menon, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1879–1890).
* V.S Pillai, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1893–1896).
* P. Narayana Menon, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1922–1925).
* C. P. Karunakara Menon, Diwan of Kingdom of Cochin (1944–1947), Diwan of Pudukottai (1947–1948).

### United Nations

* Shashi Tharoor, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2001–2007). Current Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Loksabha Constituency.
* V.K. Krishna Menon, Veteran Indian Diplomat, known for his 8-hour speech at UN Security Council on the Kashmir issue. Known as the 'Hero of Kashmir'. Architect of Non-Aligned Movement.

### Union ministers

* V.K. Krishna Menon, former Union Minister of Defence (1957–1962) (INC)
* Panampilly Govinda Menon, former Union Minister for Railways (1969–1970), Union Minister of Law (1967–1970), 1st Prime Minister of Cochin.
* K. Karunakaran, former Union Minister of Industry (1995–1996) (INC).
* Lakshmi N. Menon, former minister of state, Ministry of External Affairs (1962–1966). (INC)
* M. G. K. Menon, former minister of state for Science and Technology. (1989)
* K P Unnikrishnan, former minister for telecommunications, shipping and surface transport (1989–1990).
* O. Rajagopal, former minister of state in Third Vajpayee Ministry.(1999–2004) (BJP)
* Shashi Tharoor, former minister of state in the Second Manmohan Singh Ministry (INC)
* K. C. Venugopal, former minister of state for Power, Civil aviation (2011–2014) (INC)
* Rajeev Chandrasekhar, current Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology (2021–2024) (BJP).
* Suresh Gopi, current Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Tourism (2024- present) (BJP)

### Prime ministers of Travancore/ Cochin, chief ministers of Travancore-Cochin

* Pattom Thanu Pillai, 1st Prime Minister of Travancore and 4th chief minister of Travancore-Cochin.
* Paravur T K Narayana Pillai, 2nd Prime Minister of Travancore, 1st chief minister of Travancore-Cochin.
* T K Nair, 2nd Prime Minister of Cochin.

### Chief ministers

* Pattom Thanu Pillai, 2nd chief minister of Kerala (PSP)
* C Achutha Menon, 4th chief minister of Kerala. (CPI)
* P K Vasudevan Nair, 7th chief minister of Kerala. (CPI)
* E K Nayanar, 9th chief minister of Kerala. (CPI(M))
* M G Ramachandran, 3rd chief minister of Tamil Nadu. (AIADMK)

### Current Members of Parliament

* Rajmohan Unnithan, Member of Parliament from Kasargod Loksabha Constituency.(INC)
* M. K. Raghavan, Member of Parliament from Kozhikode Loksabha Constituency. (INC)
* V. K. Sreekandan, Member of Parliament from Palakkad Loksabha Constituency. (INC)
* Suresh Gopi, Member of Parliament from Thrissur Lok Sabha Constituency. (BJP)
* K. C. Venugopal, Member of Parliament from Alappuzha Lok Sabha Constituency. (INC)
* N. K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament from Kollam Loksabha Constituency. (RSP)
* Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Constituency. (INC)

### Governors of states

* C V Ananda Bose, current governor of West Bengal.
* P S Sreedharan Pillai, current governor of Goa, former Governor of Mizoram. (BJP)
* Kummanam Rajasekharan, former Governor of Mizoram. (BJP)
* M. K. Narayanan, former Governor of West Bengal.
* K. Sankaranarayanan, former Governor of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. (INC)

### Party leaders

* C. Sankaran Nair, 13th president of Indian National Congress (1897).
* A K Gopalan Nambiar, Prominent Communist leader and First Opposition Party Leader of Loksabha. (CPI)
* K. Chandrasekhara Pillai, senior member and former Assistant Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Kerala.
* K. G. Marar, former State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala.
* Kummanam Rajasekharan, former State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala.
* P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, former State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala.
* Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, former President of KPCC (1998–2001, 2004–2005).
* Ramesh Chennithala, former President of KPCC (2005–2014).
* E K Nayanar, State Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala. (1972–1980, 1992–1996)
* Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, State Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala. (2015–2022)
* K. C. Venugopal, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee. (2019–present)
* V. D. Satheesan, current Opposition leader in Kerala State Assembly (2021–present) (INC)
* N. Jayaraj, current chief whip of LDF in Kerala Legislative Assembly, MLA from Kerala Congress(M). (2021–present)

### Cabinet ministers (Kerala)

| Year | Name | Ministry/ portfolio | Party | Chief minister |
| 1957–1959 | C. Achutha Menon | Minister for Finance | Communist Party of India | E. M. S. Namboodiripad |
| 1957–1959 | Dr. A. R. Menon | Minister for Health | Independent | E. M. S. Namboodiripad |
| 1960–1962 | Pattam A. Thanu Pillai | Chief minister | Praja Socialist Party | Pattam A. Thanu Pillai |
| 1960–1962 | K. A. Damodara Menon | Minister for Industries | Indian National Congress | Pattam A. Thanu Pillai |
| 1962–1964 | K. A. Damodara Menon | Minister for Industries | Indian National Congress | R. Sankar |
| 1967–1969 | P. R. Kurup | Minister for Irrigation and Co-operation | Praja Socialist Party | R. Sankar | E. M. S. Namboodiripad |
| 1967–1969 | M. N. Govindan Nair | Minister for Agriculture and Electricity | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | | E. M. S. Namboodiripad |
| 1969–1977 | C. Achutha Menon | Chief minister | Communist Party of India | C. Achutha Menon |
| 1970–1977 | M. N. Govindan Nair | Minister for Transport, Electricity and Housing | Communist Party of India | C. Achutha Menon |
| 1970–1977 | K. Karunakaran | Minister for Home Affairs | Indian National Congress | C. Achutha Menon |
| 1970–1977 | R. Balakrishna Pillai | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress | C. Achutha Menon |
| 1970–1977 | K. Narayana Kurup | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress | C. Achutha Menon |
| 1977 | K. Karunakaran | Chief minister | Indian National Congress | C. Achutha Menon | K. Karunakaran |
| 1977 | K. Sankaranarayanan | Minister for Agriculture | Indian National Congress | | K. Karunakaran |
| 1977 | K. Narayana Kurup | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress | | K. Karunakaran |
| 1977 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | Minister for Industries | Communist Party of India | | K. Karunakaran |
| 1977–1978 | K. Sankaranarayanan | Minister for Agriculture | Indian National Congress | A. K. Antony |
| 1977–1978 | K. Narayana Kurup | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress | A. K. Antony |
| 1977–1978 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | Minister for Industries | Communist Party of India | A. K. Antony |
| 1978–1979 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | Chief minister | Communist Party of India | P. K. Vasudevan Nair |
| 1978–1979 | K. Narayana Kurup | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress | P. K. Vasudevan Nair |
| 1980–1981 | E.K. Nayanar | Chief minister | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1980–1981 | E. Chandrasekharan Nair | Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Housing | Communist Party of India | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1980–1981 | R. Balakrishna Pillai | Minister for Electricity | Kerala Congress (B) | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1982–1987 | K. Karunakaran | Chief minister | Indian National Congress | K. Karunakaran |
| 1982–1987 | R. Balakrishna Pillai | Minister for Electricity | Kerala Congress (B) | K. Karunakaran |
| 1982–1987 | Ramesh Chennithala | Minister for Rural Development | Indian National Congress | K. Karunakaran |
| 1987–1991 | E. K. Nayanar | Chief minister, home minister | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | K. Karunakaran | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1987–1991 | E. Chandrasekharan Nair | Minister for Food and Civil Supplies | Communist Party of India | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1987–1991 | V. V. Raghavan | Minister for Agriculture | Communist Party of India | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1987–1991 | K. Sankaranarayana Pillai | Minister for Transport | Indian Congress (Socialist) | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1987–1991 | T. Sivadasa Menon | Minister for Electricity and Rural Development | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1987–1991 | V. Viswanatha Menon | Minister for Finance | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1991–1995 | K. Karunakaran | Chief minister | Indian National Congress | K. Karunakaran |
| 1991–1995 | R. Balakrishna Pillai | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress (B) | K. Karunakaran |
| 1991–1995 | M. V. Raghavan | Minister for Co-operation | Communist Marxist Party | K. Karunakaran |
| 1995–1996 | R. Balakrishna Pillai | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress (B) | K. Karunakaran | A. K. Antony |
| 1995–1996 | K. K. Ramachandran Master | Minister For Food And Civil Supplies | Indian National Congress | | A. K. Antony |
| 1995–1996 | M.V. Raghavan | Minister for Co-operation | Communist Marxist Party | | A. K. Antony |
| 1996–2001 | E. K. Nayanar | Chief Minister, Home Minister | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1996–2001 | T. Sivadasa Menon | Minister for Finance | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1996–2001 | V. P. Ramakrishna Pillai | Minister for Irrigation and Labour | Revolutionary Socialist Party | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1996–2001 | E. Chandrasekharan Nair | Minister for Food, Tourism, and Law | Communist Party of India | E.K. Nayanar |
| 1996–2001 | P. R. Kurup | Minister for Forests and Transport | Janata Dal | E.K. Nayanar |
| 2001–2004 | K. Sankaranarayanan | Minister for Finance | Indian National Congress | A. K. Antony |
| 2001–2004 | M. V. Raghavan | Minister for Co-operation | Communist Marxist Party | A. K. Antony |
| 2001–2004 | K. B. Ganesh Kumar | Minister for Transport | Kerala Congress (B) | A. K. Antony |
| 2004–2006 | M. V. Raghavan | Minister for Co-operation | Communist Marxist Party | Oommen Chandy |
| 2004–2006 | Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan | Minister for Water Resources | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2004–2006 | K. C. Venugopal | Minister for Tourism and Devaswom | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2004–2006 | K K Ramachandran Master | Minister for Health | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2006–2011 | Kodiyeri Balakrishnan | Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Tourism | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | V. S. Achuthanandan |
| 2006–2011 | Kadannapalli Ramachandran | Minister for Devaswom | Congress (Secular) | V. S. Achuthanandan |
| 2006–2011 | N. K. Premachandran | Minister for Water Resources | Revolutionary Socialist Party | V. S. Achuthanandan |
| 2006–2011 | P. K. Sreemathy | Minister for Health and Family Welfare | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | V. S. Achuthanandan |
| 2006–2011 | V.Surendran Pillai | Minister for Port & Youth welfare | Loktantrik Janata Dal | V. S. Achuthanandan |
| 2011–2016 | Ramesh Chennithala | Minister of Home Affairs | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2011–2016 | Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan | Minister of Forest, Environment, Sports, Road Transport and Water Transport. | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2011–2016 | V. S. Sivakumar | Minister of Health and Devaswom | Indian National Congress | Oommen Chandy |
| 2011–2016 | K. P. Mohanan | Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry | Socialist Janata Dal | Oommen Chandy |
| 2016–2021 | E. Chandrasekharan | Minister for Revenue and Housing | Communist Party of India | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2016–2021 | E. P. Jayarajan | Minister of Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2016–2021 | C.Raveendranath | Minister of General Education | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2016–2021 | Kadannappalli Ramachandran | Minister of Ports, Museum and Archaeology | Congress (Secular) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | K. Rajan | Minister for Revenue and Housing | Communist Party of India | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | G. R. Anil | Minister for Food and Civil Supplies | Communist Party of India | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | K. N. Balagopal | Minister for Finance | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | M. B. Rajesh | Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development and Excise | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | P. Prasad | Minister for Agriculture | Communist Party of India | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| 2021–present | V. Sivankutty | Minister for General Education and Labour | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi Vijayan |
* C. M. Padmanabhan Nair, Politician from Socialist Party.
* K. K. Nayar, former Member of Parliament from Bahraich (Lok Sabha constituency) in 4th Lok Sabha (Bharatiya Jan Sangh).

### Outside India

* Devan Nair (1923–2005), 3rd President of Singapore (1981–1985).
* Priyanca Radhakrishnan, a New Zealand politician who served as the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (2020–2023).
* Pramila Jaypal, an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Washington's 7th congressional district (2017–present)(Democratic).
* Susheela Jayapal, an American politician served as the county commissioner for Multnomah County, Oregon.
* Hri Kumar Nair SC, a Singaporean lawyer serving as Judge of Highcourt of Singapore (2023-present), former Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore (2017–2023). former Member of Parliament representing the Thomson division of Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC (2006–2015).
* Vikram Nair, a Singaporean politician and lawyer serving as the Member of Parliament representing the Admiralty division of Sembawang GRC (2011–present).
* Murali Pillai, a Singaporean politician and lawyer serving as the Member of Parliament representing Bukit Batok SMC (2016–present)
* Kesava Pillai Anilkumar, a South African politician serving as the Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature (2019–present).
* Billy Nair (1929–2008), a South African politician, a former member of the National Assembly of South Africa (1994–2004), an anti-apartheid activist.
* Damodran Nair, a Fijian politician who served as the Member of the Tavua Open Constituency in the House of Representatives of Fiji.

## Military personnel

* Lt General Kunhiraman Palat Candeth, who played a commanding role in the Liberation of Goa from Portuguese control in 1961, and briefly served as the Military Governor of Goa, Daman and Diu. Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Padmabhushan Awardee.
* Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, former Indian Army officer who served in the 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guard on deputation. He was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Ashoka Chakra Awardee.
* Captain Harshan R Nair, Ashoka Chakra Awardee. 2 Para SF. Youngest ever recipient.
* Sushil Kumar Pillai, former Indian Army General.
* D. P. K. Pillay, former Indian Army officer.
* Lt. General Satish Nambiar, former deputy chief of Indian Army, Headed UN Forces in Kosovo.
* Radhika Menon, Indian female Merchant Navy officer.
* Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair, Ashoka Chakra Awardee.
* R. Hari Kumar, 25th and current Chief of the Naval Staff of India (CNS).
* Lt General Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army.
* K Vijayakumar, former Director General of CRPF. Senior National Security Officer and Advisor to Home Ministry.
* Iravikkutti Pillai, commander-in-chief of Venad Kingdom.
* Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai, Military officer of the Kingdom of Travancore. He played an active role in the defeat of Tipu Sultan in Travancore during the second battle in April 1790, and had been credited to have heavily injured a leg of Tipu, leaving him lame on one leg.
* Lakshmi Sahgal, popularly known as "Captain Lakshmi", was the leader of "Rani of Jhansi Regiment" of Indian National Army.

## Business / executives
### India

* B.Ravi Pillai, an Indian billionaire businessman and second richest Keralite
* Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai, the co-founder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala
* K. Ravindranathan Nair, Indian businessman and film producer
* Rajan Pillai, Indian businessman
* K. P. P. Nambiar, Indian industrialist and technocrat
* K. M. Vasudevan Pillai, founder, and CEO of Mahatma Education Society.
* Dr. G. C. Gopala Pillai, former chairman and managing director of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore and the Founder MD of Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA).
* Rajeev Chandrasekhar, owner of Jupiter Capital, a Bangalore-based venture capital fund; Owner of Asianet News.
* Captain Chittarath Poovakkatt Krishnan Nair, founder of The Leela Group.
* Jaishankar Menon (born 1956), Indian electrical engineer; developer of RAID technology

### Outside India

* Leena Nair, current global CEO of Chanel. Previously served as the Chief Human Resource Officer of Unilever.
* Gita Gopinath, current first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2022–present), previously served as Chief Economist of the IMF (2019–2022).
* G. A. Menon, founder and chairman of US-based Magnecomp International.
* V.K. Rajashekharan Pillai, a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee, chairman of Bahrain-based National Group of Companies.
* P. N. C. Menon (born 1948), Indian-Omani businessman

## Academics/ science and technology

* M.G.K Menon, 2nd Chairman of ISRO (1972)
* G Madhavan Nair, 6th Chairman of ISRO (2003-2009)
* K Radhakrishnan, 7th Chairman of ISRO (2009–2014)
* S Somanath, 10th Chairman of ISRO (2022-2025)
* Anil Menon, Candidate for an astronaut at NASA, former medical director at NASA and SpaceX.
* Thushara Pillai, Indian astrophysicist and astronomer.
* M. Radhakrishna Pillai (scientist), Indian cancer biologist.
* K C Sreedharan Pillai (1920–1985), an Indian statistician who was known for his works on multivariate analysis and probability distributions.
* Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London, UK. Appointed in January 2014 as director of the UK in a Changing Europe initiative. Special adviser to the House of Lords EU committee.
* Nivedita Menon, Feminist writer and Professor of Political Thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
* Shree K. Nayar, T. C. Chang Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering at Columbia University. Director of research at Snap Inc. A Member of the US National Academy of Engineering (2008) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011).
* Shrikanth Narayanan, Professor at the University of Southern California. An interdisciplinary engineer-scientist with a focus on human-centered signal processing and machine intelligence with speech and spoken language processing at its core.
* V. Parmeswaran Nair, A physicist, currently as serving a Distinguished Professor at City University of New York.
* Geeta Menon, the Abraham Krasnoff Professor of Global Business at New York University Stern School of Business.
* V. N. Rajashekharan Pillai, Acting Chairman, University Grants Commission, India.
* Bindu Menon, Indian neurologist, health activist, researcher.
* M. S. Valiathan, Indian cardiac surgeon.
* Rosscote Krishna Pillai, Indian science writer.
* P. K. Ramachandran Nair, agricultural scientist.
* P. K. K. Nair, Indian scientist

## Award winners
### Padma Vibhushan

The Padma Vibhushan is India's second highest civilian honour.
| 1954 | V. K. Krishna Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 1976 | K. Shankar Pillai | Arts | Delhi |
| 1985 | M. G. K. Menon | Civil Service | Kerala |
| 1998 | Lakshmi Sahgal | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2006 | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Arts | Kerala |
| 2009 | G. Madhavan Nair | Science & Engineering | Karnataka |
| 2011 | O. N. V. Kurup | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2015 | Kottayan Katankot Venugopal | Public Affairs | Delhi |

### Padma Bhushan

The Padma Bhushan is India's third highest civilian honour.
| 1954 | Vallathol Narayana Menon | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 1957 | Lakshmi Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 1958 | Kumar Padma Siva Shankara Menon | Civil Service | Kerala |
| 1958 | Arathil C. Narayanan Nambiar | Civil Service | Kerala |
| 1966 | K. P. Kesava Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 1966 | Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai | Social Work | Kerala |
| 1968 | G. Sankara Kurup | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 1968 | M. G. K. Menon | Medicine | Delhi |
| 1969 | V. K. Narayana Menon | Science & Engineering | Kerala |
| 1971 | P. Kalathil Kunju Kurup | Arts | Kerala |
| 1983 | K. Sankaran Nair | Civil Service | Kerala |
| 1985 | Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 1987 | Nalapat Balamani Amma | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 1998 | G. Madhavan Nair | Science & Engineering | Kerala |
| 2005 | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2007 | Ramankutty Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 2007 | Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Arts | Kerala |
| 2009 | A. Sreedhara Menon | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2010 | Kuzhur Narayana Marar | Arts | Kerala |
| 2011 | Madavoor Vasudevan Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 2012 | Mira Nair | Arts | Delhi |
| 2014 | K. Radhakrishnan | Science & Engineering | Karnataka |
| 2019 | Mohanlal | Arts | Kerala |
| 2020 | N R Madhava Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 2021 | K S Chithra | Art | Kerala |

### Padma Shri

The Padma Shri is India's fourth highest civilian honour.
| 1954 | K. Shankar Pillai | Literature & Education | Delhi |
| 1961 | M. G. K. Menon | Science & Engineering | Delhi |
| 1965 | Guru Kunchu Kurup | Arts | Kerala |
| 1970 | Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 1971 | Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 1971 | Chenganoor Raman Pillai | Arts | Kerala |
| 1973 | Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 1973 | M. K. Krishna Menon | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 1973 | N. Kesava Panikkar | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 1984 | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Arts | Kerala |
| 1984 | Mavelikara Krishnankutty Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 1984 | N. Balakrishnan Nair | Medicine | Kerala |
| 1984 | Sooranad Kunjan Pillai | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 1990 | G. Aravindan | Arts | Kerala |
| 1990 | M. R. Kurup | Science & Engineering | Kerala |
| 1991 | Bharath Gopi | Arts | Kerala |
| 1991 | T. G. K. Menon | Social Work | Madhya Pradesh |
| 1992 | M. K. Narayanan | Civil Service | Delhi |
| 1998 | O. N. V. Kurup | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2002 | V. K. Madhavan Kutty | Literature & Education | kerala |
| 2001 | Mohanlal | Arts | Kerala |
| 2001 | M. Krishnan Nair | Medicine | Kerala |
| 2001 | C. G. Krishnadas Nair | Science & Engineering | Karnataka |
| 2003 | Narayana Panicker Kochupillai | Medicine | Delhi |
| 2003 | N. R. Madhava Menon | Public Affairs | West Bengal |
| 2004 | Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 2004 | Ayyappa Paniker | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2005 | P. N. V. Kurup | Medicine | Delhi |
| 2005 | K. S. Chithra | Arts | Kerala |
| 2006 | Kavungal Chathunni Panicker | Arts | Kerala |
| 2006 | Shobana | Arts | Kerala |
| 2006 | Sugathakumari | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2007 | Balachandra Menon | Arts | Kerala |
| 2008 | Vellayani Arjunan | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2008 | M. Leelavathy | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2008 | P. K. Narayanan Nambiar | Arts | Kerala |
| 2009 | Leela Omchery | Arts | Delhi |
| 2009 | Cheril Krishna Menon | Social Work | UAE |
| 2009 | Kalamandalam Gopi | Arts | Kerala |
| 2009 | Mattannoor Sankarankutty | Arts | Kerala |
| 2010 | B. Ravi Pillai | Trade & Industry | Bahrain |
| 2011 | Ritu Menon | Literature & Education | Delhi |
| 2011 | Peruvanam Kuttan Marar | Arts | Kerala |
| 2011 | A. Marthanda Pillai | Medicine | Kerala |
| 2011 | G. Shankar | Science & Engineering | Kerala |
| 2012 | Gopinath Pillai | Trade & Industry | Singapore |
| 2012 | J. Hareendran Nair | Medicine | Kerala |
| 2012 | Priyadarshan | Arts | Tamil Nadu |
| 2013 | Madhu | Arts | Kerala |
| 2014 | M. Subhadra Nair | Medicine | Kerala |
| 2014 | Kalamandalam Satyabhama | Arts | Kerala |
| 2016 | Sundar Menon | Social Work | UAE |
| 2016 | P. Gopinathan Nair | Social Work | Kerala |
| 2017 | Meenakshi Amma | Others | Kerala |
| 2017 | Chemanchery Kunhiraman Nair | Arts | Kerala |
| 2020 | N. Chandrasekharan Nair | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 2020 | Moozhikkal Pankajakshi | Arts | Kerala |
| 2020 | Thalappil Pradeep | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 2021 | O M Nambiar | Sports | Kerala |
| 2022 | Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil | Sports | Kerala |
| 2022 | P Narayana Kurup | Literature and Education | Kerala |

## Sports

* S Sreesanth, Indian former cricketer and film actor
* Karun Nair, Indian international cricketer
* Shankar Pillai, American poker player
* Abhishek Nayar, former Indian international cricketer
* Narendra Menon, former Indian first class cricketer
* Bhaskar Pillai, former Indian cricketer
* Sashi Menon, Indian former professional tennis player
* Arjun Nair, Australian cricketer