Famous Nairs

Freedom fighters


Velu Thampy Dalawa: Dalawa of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom

and was the first freedom fighter from Kerala to organise an uprising against
the British on a massive scale. He committed suicide before British caught him

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair: Was the President of Indian National Congress and leader of Indian NationalCongress before Mahatma Gandhi. Only Malayali to become the president of Indian National Congress. Was also member of Viceroy’s executive council in British India

V.K Krishna Menon: Was the defense minister of India; One of the most intellectual politicians India had ever witnessed; He held Masters degree in Psychology and Political Science from University College of London and London School of Economics. While in England was a member of Labour Party and was secretary of India League in England from 1929 to 1947. He was elected as MP in Indian parliament from Mumbai, Midnapore and Thiruvananthapuram 

Captain Lekshmi Seghal: Lead Rani of Jhansi regiment in the Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose during independence struggle. Married to Prem Kumar Saghal at Lahore. She belongs to Anakkara Vadakketh Tharavadu in Palakkad. Daughter of Ammu Swaminathan 

K.Kelappan: (Kelappaji) Kerala Gandhi, freedom fighter, first

president of Nair Service Society (NSS)

K.P. Kesava Menon: Fought with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in

INA. Later Congress leader and editor of Mathrubhumi daily

Barrister G.P. Pillai: Leader of Travancore State

Congress

C. Krishnan Nair: One of the 72 volunteers who participated

in Salt Satyagraha; marched with Gandhiji to Dandi. Was the Congress MP from
Outer Delhi from 1952 to 1962. Also was the president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Congress
Committee

Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai: Called Kuthira Pakki, He was

commander of Ambalappuzha king as well as the Travancore Nair Army,
which defeated Tipu Sultan

Madhavan Nair (Nair San, Japan): Was a member of INA, fought

along with Japanese soldiers against the British, later became a well known
businessman in Japan

M. Madhavan: Freedom fighter and Mayor of Mumbai from 1965-66

C.K Govindan Nair: Was a freedom fighter and former president

of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee

K. Madhavan Nair: Freedom fighter and director of Mathrubhumi

daily

N. Sreekantan Nair: freedom fighter and leader of RSP

T.M. Nair : founder of Justice party in Tamil Nadu

Kaitheri Ambu Nambiar:: commander of Kerala Varma

Pazhassi Raja's army in Kottayam, as well as his brother-in-law.

Pallichal Pillai (Also known as Vanchimuttam Pillai) -

leader of the Attingal Riot of 1721, the first uprising against the British in India

Famous Nair Politicians and Rulers

M.G. Ramachandran: Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and one of the most popular politicians India ever seen. Was a film star before he entered politics.

K. Karunakaran: Four times chief minister of Kerala, former union industry minister, was a member of Congress working committee. Karunakaran was one of the most influential leaders of Congress in India when he was alive. Was a staunch loyalist of Indira Gandhi
P. Krishna Pillai: Founder of Communist Party of India. Was fondly called Sakhavu (Comrade); Was born at Vaikom; Was a member of Congress initally and secretary of Congress Socialist Party
A.K Gopalan: Was the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha; one of the tallest leaders of Communist movement in India; popularly known as AKG
C. Achutha Menon: Was the chief minister of Kerala and known as an upright politician

Prakash Karat: General secretary of CPI (M) in India; Born to Menon parents from Palakkad. Is married to a Bengali comrade Brinda Karat

Rajeev Chandrasekhar: Union minister of state for electronics and information technology, skill development and entreprenuership.He is an MP from Karnataka and a leading industrialist
PS. Sreedharan Pillai: Former president of Kerala BJP, currently governor of Goa
Prof MGK Menon: Was one of the leading space scientists in India and was a minister of state for science and technology in Government of India

E. K. Nayanar: Chief minister of Kerala three times, well known for his down to earth approach and earthy wit. Longest serving chief minister of Kerala known for his clean corruption-free political career

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai: Was the second chief minister of Kerala. Was also governor.

P.K Vasudevan Nair: Leader of CPI. Was the chief minister of Kerala for a short period.

Panampally Govinda Menon: Was chief minister of Tiru-Kochi and later union minister of law and railways. Known for his expertise in law.

K.K Nair: Was a staunch Hindu and an MP of Jansangh from Faizabad; He was earlier district collector of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh and had allowed Hindus right to worship at Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Jaya Jaitley: Leader of Samata party

K.P Unnikrishnan: Was a cabinet minister in union government; he held the portfolio of surface transport 

C.V. Ananda Bose: Governor of Bengal at present.  A former IAS officer, Mr. Bose was principal secretary to former Kerala CM K. Karunakaran in the past and was also a principal secretary in the union government 
Kummanam Rajasekharan: Former President of Kerala unit of BJP. He is well known for leading agitations to protect rights of Hindus in Kerala and agitation to protect the ecology of Aaranmula

C.V. Devan Nair: Was the President of Singapore

O. Rajagopal: Former union minister and member of BJP national executive several times

Ramesh Chennithala: Former president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committe. Was formerly AICC secretary and Youth Congress national president. Was also home minister of Kerala. and Leader of Opposition in Kerala; now MLA from Haripad

Shashi Tharoor MP: Former U.N. Under secertary general and India's former minister of state for human resource development

KC Venugopal MP: AICC general secretary (in charge of organisation) Former Minister of state for aviation; MP from Alappuzha in Kerala; hails from Kannur district

Kodieri Balakrishnan: Politbureau member of CPI (M). was CPI (M) Kerala Secretary

CV Ananda Bose : Governor of Bengal; Mr. Ananda Bose was an IAS officer and had held many very important posts in Kerala and Central Government in Delhi; He is the founder of Nirmithi Kendra which popularises affordable housing and had been in many important committee of the UN.

K. N. Balagopal, Finance minister of Kerala at present

P. Rajeev: Industries minister of Kerala at present 

V.D Satheeshan: Kerala Opposition leader. He is the MLA from North Paravoor, Ernakulam

Billy Nair: Former (1929-2008) South African Political leader, Was a member of National Assembly of South Africa

Famous Nair bureaucrats 

Sir NR Pillai: Narayanan Raghavan Pillai was the first cabinet secretary of India. He served from 1950-53. He was born into an ancient Nair family "Elankath" in South Travancore . Diwan Nanu Pillai was his ancestor. Mr. Pillai served as secretary genral of external affairs and India's ambassador to France after retirement. BBC Presenter Nisha Pillai is one of his grandchildren

 

V. P. Menon- First secretary for princely states in independent India. Confidant of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Secured the formal accession of hundreds of princely states in India using diplomacy and determination. 

KPS Menon: India's first foreign secretary; his son KPS Menon (junior) was also foreign secretary; his grand nephew Shivsankar Menon was also India's foreign secretary. He was India's National Security Advisor.

KPK Menon: Was finance secretary of India

Sardar K. M. Panicker- Diplomat and Diwan of many of India's erstwhile princely states. His daughter Devaki Panicker was the wife of M.N. Govindan Nair who was secretary of  Communist Party  in Kerala

Jyotindra Nath Dixit- Son of Munshi Paramu Pillai and India's National Security Advisor (2004-05) 
M. K. Narayanan- Was India's National Secuity Advisor; headed Research and Analysis Wing (RAW); now Governor of West Bengal

TKA Nair: Was principal secretary to Prime Minister; later director at Prime Minister's Office of India

KM Chandrasekhar : Was the cabinet secretary of India from 2007 to 2011. His father Kesava Menon was Railway Services Commission Chairman. Mr. Chandrasekhar born in Ittiyanath family in Thrissur was a Kerala cadre officer and had served as principal secretary of industries in Kerala. He is now in the director board of many top companies in India. 

G. Mohan Kumar: Was defence secretary of India from 2015-17. He was born in Thiruvananthapuram. His father Gopinthan Nair , was a  professor 

Shivsankar Menon: Was foreign secretary of India; later National Security Advisor of India

GK Pillai: He was home secretary of India from 2009-11. Born into a Nair family in Kollaam Mr. Pillai's wife Sudha Pillai is also an IAS officer.
K Vijayakumar: Former Director General of CRPF. Now senior national security officer and advisor to home ministry. He is a Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer. He had lead the commando team that killed forest brigand Veerappan

MKK Nair: Was a celebrated IAS officer and top management expert in India; served as MD of Bhilai Steel Plant, secretary at union government and chairman and MD of FACT
T. P. Sreenivasan - India's Ambassador to the United Nations, and Governor for India, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

B. R. Nair - Former Chairman of Indian Railway Board
K. Sankaran Nair - Former Head of Research and Analysis Wing
M.K Damodaran- Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India

 P.Madhava Menon - Former Secretary Ministry of Labour and Director ILO ( India) 
Shashi Tharoor - Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations; Currently Minister of state for human resources affairs in India.

Technocrats, scientists, and CEOs

S. Somanath: Current chairman of ISRO; He is an expert in space launch vehicle technology and played a stellar role in the design and development of India's heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV MKIII. He is a native of Thuravoor in Alappuzha dstrict of Kerala. His father Sankara Panicker was a school teacher 

Anil Menon: is the medical director of SpaceX, he has been selected by the NASA to be trained as an astraunaut, He is an emergency medicine physician and holds the rank of Lt. Colonel in th US Airforce. His father is from the south Indian state of Kerala, and mother from Ukraine

V. N. Rajashekharan Pillai - Was acting Chairman, University Grants Commission, India 

E. Sreedharan: Legendary engineer, was chairman of Delhi Metro; instrumental in making Konkan Railway a reality

G: Madhavan Nair, was chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, during his period  ISRO undertook a big leap

K Radhakrishnan: Former chairman of ISRO, is a native of Thirussur district in Kerala

Late Prof. MGK Menon: Internationally known physicist, First Keralite to become the chairman of ISRO; he had also served as the minister for science and technology in the ministry of VP Singh

Famous Nair Diwans

Velu Thampi Dalava- Diwan of Travancore

Thottekkat Diwan Kochugovinda Menon - Diwan of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin 
Thottekkat Diwan Sankunni Menon - Diwan of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin 

Paliath Achchan- Former prime minister of the princely state of Kochi 

Famous Nair Generals and Commanders of Para-military

Admiral R. Hari Kumar: India's Chief of Naval Staff; took charge on November 10, 2021

Lt General Sarath Chand: (2017) Has been vice chief of Indian Army. Gen Chand is a native of Kottarakkara in Kollam district in Kerala and an alumni

Lt.General K. P. Candeth -GOC-in-C Western Command(Indo-Pak war hero, played a crucial role during liberation of Bangladesh)
Lt. General P. E. Menon - Formerly North Eastern Army Commander 
Lt. General Satish Nambiar: Was deputy chief of Indian Army- Headed UN Forces in Kosovo 

Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar - Was Deputy Chief of Staff Indian Air Force (2017). He is the current IAF DCS
Air Chief Marshal K. N. Nair - ex Airforce Chief 

Lt Gen V.K Pillai: Was Delhi area commander of Indian Army; Currently General officer commanding of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Lt Gen V M Nair: Is the commanding in chief of Kangra based 9 corps
Lt Gen Prakash Menon: Was the commandant of prestigious National Defence College New Delhi; Expert in counter insurgency 

Air Vice Marshal Narayan Menon 

Para-military

Vijaya Kumar: Was Director General of India's Central Reserve Police Force: As head of Special Task Force He killed notorious forest poacher Veerappan; Currently senior advisor at India's Home Ministry

Famous Nair Businessmen and Business leaders

B Ravi Pillai: He is assessed as the second richest Keralite with a wealth of over $ 4 billion. Chairman Nasr Al Hajri Corporation; a business conglomerate based in Bahrain and managing director of Petrochem based in Saudi Arabia. Pillai who hails from Kollam has business interests throughout GCC and owns mines in Australia. He is reportedly expanding to Hongkong also.

PNC Menon: Chairman of Shobha group, a construction major based in Bangalore, India, he has Oman citizenship. He owns Service and Trade, biggest interior decoration company in Oman with a pan Gulf presence.

Leena Nair: Leena Nair is the next CEO of  the renowned French fashion brand Chanel. Her appointment was annunced in December 2021. She will take charge in January. Her family is from Kerala but had migrated to Kolhapur in Maharashtra earlier. Leena Nair is currently a British citizen. Her husband Kumar Nair runs his own financial service company. She has 2 children; Aryan and Siddharth

Ottapathu Ramachandran: Is the owner of Choppies, a Botswana based multinational retail chain. Son of Govindan kutty Nair and Kunjikkutty Amma, Ramachandran hails from Ollur in Thrissur district in Kerala. Choppies alone has a turnover of over Rs 7000 crores. Ramachandran owns many other businesses also in Africa. 

Late C.K. Menon: Managing director of Doha based Behzad group; stakes in transportation, marketing of car accessories and engineering machinery. One of the biggest companies transporting oil and gas in Qatar, Behzad group has business interests in several GCC countries and England.

V.K Rajasekhara Pillai: Awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman at the meet held in Bangalore in 2017. He is the chairman of Bahrain based National Group of Companies. He business empire is spread over GCC and South East Asia. National Firefighting Company WLL is his flagship comapny which is headquartered in Bahrain. Mr. Pillai is a native of Mannar, near Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district.

Pambvasan Nair: He is the founder of Amad group of companies. Mr. Nair who hails from Palakkad is one of the top industrialists in Bahrain and is a well known philanthropist too

Hari Menon: Co founder Big Basket He is reported to be the CEO of the company. He is the son in law of Mr. E. Sreedharan, former head of Delhi Metro. 

Late CP Krishnan Nair: Was chairman of Leela group which owns a chain of hotels throughout India, garment factories and software parks. One of the most respected names in hotel industry in the world, Nair is a multifaceted personality who began career as an official of Indian Navy during pre independence period and had participated in freedom struggle.

Late Dr KTB Menon: KTB Menon was one of the biggest Indian businessmen based in Kuwait ever. A young Menon joined the family business of Al Gharabally family. Later Abdulla Gharabally and Menon together established ASH Al Gharabally Co in 1958 which grew as one of the biggest firms in Kuwait. He was one of the biggest construction contractors based in Kuwait. He died at Bangaluru reportedly because of heart attack. But some people believe that his death was under dubious circumstances.

GA Menon:  Founder of Magnecomp International based in US, UST Global, Toonz Animation etc, Menon was a visionary businessman who was a truly international entrepreneur who estab Magnecomp which is currently the world's second largest manufacturer of suspension assemblies with operations in the U.S., Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Singapore, according to UST Global

Shivsankaran Nair: CEO of British Borneo Oil and Gas Ltd; Nair has interests in oil and gas, shipping, manufacturing, construction etc. His business interests are spread over Central Asia, Africa and China. He was in the news in international dailies for being the Chinese agent for acquiring oil exploration rights in African companies. Nair brokers deals for China and is based in Malata.

Tan Sri Datuk Ravindran Menon: Co founder and group managing director of Ara Group, a conglomerate based in Malaysia.The group is mainly into construction of infrastructure and owns airports.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar MP; Currently Union Minister for Electronics; Owns Jupiter Capital, a Bangalore based venture capital fund; owner of Asianet News; He owns a Kannada daily too. He is the son in law of TPG Nambiar and was one of the partners of BPL Industries Ltd

TPG Nambiar: Founded BPL Industries india; 
Reji Menon: Oil magnate based in Ukraine; Founded Asianet and was its chairman till he sold it to Rupert Murdock
Rajan Pillai: Known as biscuit king, Pillai was once chiarman of Britannia Industries; He comes from a top business family based in Kollam and his father K Janardhanan Pillai was once the largest cashew exporter in India. Rajan died under tragic circumstances after he was imprisoned at Tihar Jail following a case filed by his former business partner at a Singapore court.

K Ravindranathan Nair: Is currently the largest cashew exporter in India and is a well known philanthropist. He owns Vijayalakshmi Cashew Company at Kollam. Nair produced almost all of the award winning films of well known directors Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Aravindan.

Chandran Menon: Founder of Kolhapur based Menon group a pioneer in automobile component manufacturing industry in India. Group companies include Menon Pistons Ltd, Menon Bearings Ltd, Menon Piston Rings Ltd, Menon & Menon etc.

M.K. Nair; founded Mumbai based Petron Engineering Construction Ltd: He sold his majority stake to a Khazhak company.

Ajyachandran Nair: Managing Director, Alka Contracting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Udayabhaskaran Nair: A Nagpur based big businessman, chairman of Nairsons group which is one of the top coal services company in India; owns hospitals, medical college, software and processed food companies; An active BJP worker, Nair contested as BJP candidate in assembly elections in Kerala.

Raj Nair: Chief technical officer and group vice president of Ford Motors, United States

Famous Nairs in Film industry (Film actors, directors, singers....)

Adoor Gopalakrishnan- Movie director and Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winner (2004) 

G Aravindan: Well known film director, won national award several times

P Padmarajan: Was one of the most popular directors Malayalam film industry ever witnessed; He combined popularity with artistic values, directed some of the memorable films in Malayalam

Priyadarshan: Is one of the top film directors in Bollywood and Mollywood (Malayalm film industry) He is the first Malayali to become big in Bollywood with several Hindi super hits to his credit.

Mohanlal: Is the mega star of Malayalm film industry; Has won the best actor award at national level in addition to several other awards nationally and internationally

Jayan: Was the first real superstar in Malayalam film industry known for his macho image. Died tragically in his early 40s.

Vasu Menon Legendary film producer; Prouced many famous Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam films His hindi films included Khandaan, Nai Roshni, Waris etc. He owned Vasu Studios at Chennai

Seema: Daughter of Madhavan Nambiar, she was was the topmost heroine in Malayalam film industry in 70s and 80s. Paired with Jayan in several hit movies. Still continues to be active in film industry and television.

Jayabharathi: Was one of the real superstars in Malayalam film world; cousin of Jayan; Acted in many superhit Malayalam and Tamil films

Suresh Gopi MP: Super star in Malayalam film industry known for his action roles; Has won best actor award at national and state levels. Currently a member of Rajya Sabha and leader of BJP

Dileep: One of the superstars of Malayalam film industry; He has won many awards; was married to famous actress Manju Warriar. Currently divorced her and married Kavya Madhavan

Kay Kay Menon: One of the top actors in Bollywood. Has won many awards; He is born and brought up in Mumbai

KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath): Is one of the leading singers of Bollywood. Son of C.S Nair and Kanakavalli, he is born and brought up in Delhi and Mumbai. His hits in 2012 includes songs in Ek tha Tiger, Aakash Vani, Jism 2, Makkhi etc.

MS Viswanathan: One of the most famous music directors in Tamil, MS Viswamathan was born in Elappully, Palakkad Kerala. His father was Subramaniyan and grand father Krishnan Nair. He grew up in very difficult circumstances. Was taken to Chennai by his uncle Appa Nair where he developed his career later.

Shashilal Nair: Was one of the top directors in Bollywood;

MN Nambiar: Was one of the top actors in Tamil film industry. His son Sukumaran Nambiar was national treasurer of BJP

Malaysia Vasudevan: Was one of the most famous Tamil Playback singers. His parents Chathu Nair and Ammalu hailed from Ottappalam in Palakkad from where they migrated to Malaysia for a livelihood. 

Prithviraj Sukumaran: Son of former hero in Malayalm film industry Sukumaran. He has presence in Bollywood also. A budding super star

Bharatan: One of the top directors in Malayalam film industry; Has produced many super hits; He combined artistic values with commercialism

Shobhana- One of the top heroines in Malayalam film world; winner of national award and well known dancer

Nedumudi Venu: One of the top actors in Malayalam film industry; has won many awards.

PN Menon: Was one of the top directors in Malyalam film industry in yesteryears. 

M Krishnan Nair-One of the famous Malayalam film directors of yesterdays. He had directed films in Tamil also. His famous film in Tamil Rickshawkkaran won a national award for MGR. Former Kerala chief secretary and poet K.Jayakumar is his son

Shaji Kailas: One of the most popular Malayalam film directors; His hits include Thalasthanam, Aaram Thamburan and Bharatchandran IPS

Adoor Bhasi - Actor
Ragini, Padmini and Lalitha- The sisters were actresses and dancers and ruled south Indian film Industry in 50s and 60s.
Murali Nair - Movie director
Navya Nair- National award winning actor
Madhu- Malayalam movie actor. Honored with Padmashree in 2012

Sukumaran: One of the top heroes of yesteryear. Prithviraj is his son 

Vinayan: One of the most popular directors in Malayalam film world currently

Revathi Menon - Actress and director
K. S. Chitra - One of the most famous Playback Singers of South India. Chitra has sung many popular songs in Malayalam and Tamil. Her bhajans are also equally famous.
G. Sujatha - Playback Singer
T K Rajeev Kumar - Filmmaker

M.G. Radhakrishan: The late musician is known more as a music director though he has made his mark as a singer too. He has tuned many popular film songs in Malayalam.

MG Sreekumar: National award winner and one of the most popular singers of Malayalam film industry.

P.Leela: Was one of the top singers in Malayalam and Tamil film industry. She was also known for his devotional songs on Guruvayoorappan

Famous Writers (modern era)

Vallathol Narayana Meon: One the topmost poets of modern ear. He revived Kathakali and founded Kerala Kala Mandalam with the help of like minded

Changampuzha Krishana Pillai: The most popular romantic poet in Kerala during modern times

G Sankara Kurup: Renowned poet and first winnerr of Jnanapith award from Kerala

Takazhi Sivasankara Pillai: One of the most famous novelists; winner of Jnanapith award

MT Vasudevan Nair: Renowned Malayalam Novelist, was editor of Mathrubhumi daily and also winner of Jnanapith award

ONV Kurup: Well known poet; lyricist and winner of Jnanapith award

T Padmanabhan: Renowned fiction writer; has won Kerala and Kendra Sahitya Academy award