List of people from Kerala

The following is a list of notable people from Kerala, India. The names are classified according to the person's major area of work. For more details please see their respective articles.

Monarchs

130px|thumbnail|H H Rama Varma XV

130px|thumbnail|Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma

Early Cheras

The Cheras are referred to as Kedalaputo (Sanskrit: "Kerala Putra") in the Emperor Ashoka's Pali edicts (3rd century BCE). The earliest Graeco-Roman accounts referring to the Cheras are by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century CE, in the Periplus of the 1st century CE, and by Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE. Greeks and Romans are called "Yavanas" in early Indian literature.

Uthiyan Cheralathan – earliest known ruler of the Chera family who was also known as "Vanavaramban" Cheral Athan. He is sometimes identified with the Chera ruler who prepared food for the warring cousins at Kurukshetra War in the epic Mahabharata (Akananuru).
Nedum Cheralathan – Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan, son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan, is the hero of the second decade of Pathitrupathu which was composed by the poet Kaveri Poompattanatthu Kaari Kannanar. The greatest of his enemies were the Kadambas whom he defeated in battles. He also attacked Yavana ships and held Yavana traders ransom.
Pallaana Chel Kelu Kuttuvan – son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan. Credited as the conqueror of Kongu.
Kalankakkanni Narmudi Cheral – led an expedition against the Adigaiman Anji of Tagadur. Initially defeated by Nannan of Ezhimala in the battle of Pazhi, later defeated and killed Nannan in the battle of Vakai Perum Turai.
Rajashekhara (c. 820–844 CE)

Kola Swarupam

Kolattunādu (Kola Swarupam, as Kingdom of Cannanore in foreign accounts, Chirakkal (Chericul) in later times) was one of the three most powerful feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast during the arrival of Portuguese India Armadas, the others being Zamorin's Calicut and Quilon. The Kolathiris are praised as Vadakkan Perumals ("Kings of the North") by the noted "Keralolpathi".

Rama Ghata Mushaka – established the lineage of Kola Swarupam;
Vikrama Rama an inscription dating to 929 AD mentions about one Vikrama Rama identifiable with the ruler Vikrama Rama who appears in the Mushika Vamsa
Udaya Varma, also known as "Rama Ghata Muvar" – mentioned on the inscription from 10th century AD
Eraman Chemani (Rama Jayamani) – the inscription from the Tiruvattur temple mentions him to be identifiable as the king who appears as the 109th ruler in the Mushika Vamsa

Arrakal Kingdom

Arakkal kingdom (Kingdom of Cannanore, Sultanate of Laccadive and Cannanore) was a former city-state on the Malabar Coast, ruled by a dynasty of the same name. The ruling King was called Ali Raja ("the Sea Ruler") and the ruling queen was called Arakkal Beevi. The royal family is said to be originally a branch of the Kolattiri, descended from a princess of that family who converted to Islam. They owed allegiance to the Kolattiri rulers, whose ministers they had been at one time. The Arakkal family was the only Muslim royal family of Kerala to control parts of the coast and Lakshadweep.

Ali Raja Ali II – known to have deployed his naval Mappila forces on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb during the Child's War

Samoothiri of Kozhikode

Zamorin of Calicut (Saamoothiri, സാമൂതിരി) – rulers of Malabar from the 14th and 18th century AD. At the peak of their reign, the Samoothiris ruled over a region from Kollam (Quilon) to Panthalayini Kollam (Koyilandy).

Mana Vikrama (Manikkan) – legendary founder of the ruling family
Mana Vikrama the Great – the Russian merchant of Tver Afanasy Nikitin (1468–1474) visited Kozhikode during his reign
Mana Vikrama III – the expulsion of the Portuguese from Chaliyam (1571) by his forces
Mana Vikrama (Saktan Tampuran) – uncle of the author of the Krishnanatakam
Mana Veda – author of the Krishnanatakam
Asvati Tirunal – his forces undertook the expulsion of Portuguese from Kodungallur (1662)
Puratam Tirunal – Portuguese were expelled from Kochi under his reign (1663)
Uttrattati Tirunal – ceded Chetwai to the Dutch
Bharani Tirunal Mana Vikram – the terror of the Dutch; two Mamankams (1694 and 1695)
Nileswaram Tirunal – adoptions from Nileswaram (1706 and 1707)
Samoothiri from Kilakke Kovilakam (1741–1746)
Putiya Kovilakam (1746–1758) – the Dutch War was fought during his term (1753–1758).
Kilakke Kovilakam (1758–1766) – battles with Travancore and the invasion of Mysore; committed suicide; annexed by Mysore
Putiya Kovilakam (1766–1788)
Kerala Varma Vikrama (1788–1798) – Treaty of Seringapatam (1792)
Krishna Varma (1798–1806) – agreement of 1806 with EIC (died in 1816)

Purannatt Swarupam (Cotiote Rajah)

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja – known as the Lion of Kerala; a prince from the royal dynasty of Pazhassi Kottayam. He was the only person to defeat Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in a war.

Kings of Travancore

In the 18th century, Marthanda Varma (1706–1758), of the Trippappoor, successfully developed the centralised state of Travancore. Varma routed all of major Nair nobles in Travancore, organised a standing army, defeated most of the chiefdoms in central Kerala, entered into strategic alliances with Europeans, supported Kerala merchants (Syrian Christian) in the place of the Europeans, and eventually formed one of the first modern states of southern India.

Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1729–1758)
Balarama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal – Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal (1758–1798)
Balarama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1798–1810)
Gouri Laksmibhai Ranee (1810–1815)
Gouri Parvathibhai Ranee (1815–1829)
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1829–1847)
Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja (1847–1860)
Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma Maharaja (1860–1880)
Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma Maharaja (1880–1885)
Shri Moolam Thirunal Maharajah (1885–1924)
Sethu Laksmibhai Ranee (1924–1933)
Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharajah (1933–1949) – last King of Travancore; Rajpramukh of Thiru-Kochi

Dewan of Travancore

Raja Kesavadas – Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja

Dewan of Malabar

E.K Krishnan – Dewan of Malabar district, and Deputy Collector of state and district.

Kings of Cochin

Unniraman Koikkal I (1500–1503)
Veera Kerala Varma (1537–1565)
Kesava Rama Varma (1565–1601)
Rama Varma (1701–1721)
Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran (1790–1805)
Rama Varma XV (1895–1914)
Kerala Varma (1946–1948)
Rama Varma Pareekshithu Thampuran (1948–1964) – last king of Cochin

Villarvattom Dynasty (vassal principality of the Kingdom of Cochin)

King Thoma of Villarvattom.

Heads of state

thumb|right|K.R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002)

President of India

K.R. Narayanan – 10th President of India (1997–2002), 9th Vice-President of India (1992–1997)

President of Singapore

Devan Nair – 3rd President of Singapore (1981–1985)

Prime Minister of Malaysia

Mahathir Mohamad - 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981–2003), (2018–2020)

Parliament of India

Rajya Sabha

P. J. Kurien – 18th deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha (2012–2018)

Lok Sabha

T. K. Viswanathan – Secretary General of the Lok Sabha (15th)

Governors of states

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
fourth governor of Punjab, 1962–1964
fourth governor of Andhra Pradesh, 1964–1968
P.C. Alexander
ninth governor of Tamil Nadu, 1988–1990
seventeenth governor of Maharashtra, 1993–2002
seventh governor of Goa, 1996–1998
P V Cherian – eighth governor of Maharashtra, 1964–1969
M. M. Jacob – ninth governor of Meghalaya, 1995–2007
A. J. John, Anaparambil – fourth governor of Madras, 1956–1957
M K Narayanan – 24th governor of West Bengal, 2010–2014
Madathilparampil Mammen Thomas Governor of Nagaland, 1990–1992
Vakkom Purushothaman – eleventh governor of Mizoram, 2011–2014
K. Sankaranarayanan – 21st governor of Maharashtra, 2010–2014
K.K. Viswanathan – sixth governor of Gujarat, 1973–1978
Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP – 18th governor of Mizoram, 2018–2019
P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, BJP – 19th governor of Mizoram, 2019–present

Council of Ministers, India

130px|thumbnail|A. K. Antony

Union Cabinet ministers

John Mathai – Minister for Finance (1948–1950)
V. K. Krishna Menon – Minister for Defence (1957–1962)
Panampilly Govinda Menon – Minister for Law and Railways (1969–1970)
Ravindra Varma – Minister for Labour (1977–79)
K. P. Unnikrishnan – Minister for Telecommunications in the V P Singh Cabinet (1989–90)
K. Karunakaran – Minister for Industries (1995)
A.K. Antony – Minister of Defence (2006–2014) – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (1993–1995)
Vayalar Ravi – Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs (2006–2014) – Minister for Civil Aviation (2011)

Minister of State (Independent Charges)

M. P. Veerendra Kumar – Ministry of Labour with additional charge of Urban Affairs (1997–1998)
K. V. Thomas – Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (2009–2014)
Alphons Kannanthanam, BJP - Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism (2016–2019)

Minister of State (MoS)

Lakshmi N. Menon – Ministry of External Affairs of India (1957–1966)
Mullappally Ramachandran – Ministry of Home Affairs (2009–2014) – Agriculture and Cooperation (1991–1996)
M. M. Jacob – Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources and Home Affairs at different periods (1987–93)
O. Rajagopal, BJP – Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Railways, Urban Development, Defence (1999–2004)
Shashi Tharoor – Ministry of External Affairs of India (2009–2010), Minister of State for Human Resource Development (2012–2014)
E. Ahamed – Ministry of External Affairs (2011– ); Minister of State for Human Resource Development; Minister of State for Railways (2004–2014)
K. C. Venugopal – Ministry of Power (2011–2014)
Kodikkunnil Suresh – Ministry of Labour and Employment (2012–2014)
V Muraleedharan, BJP – Minister of state for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs

Chief Ministers

From Kerala

From Tamil Nadu

1. M. G. Ramachandran, 3rd CM of Tamil Nadu

2. V N Janaki Ramachandran, 4th CM of Tamil Nadu

Ministers

Other states

K. J. George – Minister of Home, Karnataka (2013–2016)

Political leaders

A. P. Udhayabhanu – Member Travancore State Assembly (1944–1952)
C.P.Mathen – Member of Parliament (1952); Indian Ambassador to Sudan (1957–1960)
A.K. Gopalan, Lok Sabha (1952–1977); Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Mathai Manjooran – member of Rajya Sabha (1952–1954)
K. M. George – member, Kerala Legislative Assembly (1960–1964) founder Kerala Congress (1964)
K.Damodaran (Damodaran Kizhedath) – Member Rajya Sabha (1964–1970);
Vakkom Bharathan – CPI(M) leader, trade union leader
Kummanam Rajasekharan – former Mizoram Governor; former BJP Kerala state president
P.J. Kurien – Member and Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha from Kerala (2012–incumbent)
V.S. Achuthanandan – former chief minister Kerala (2006–11)
P. K. Jayalakshmi – youngest minister in the Oommen Chandy Government (elected to office at age 30); first Adivasi Minister of Kerala
K.Karunakaran – former chief minister Kerala (3235 days)
Oommen Chandy – former chief minister Kerala (2446 days)
O. Rajagopal – former Central Minister, two times MP, first BJP MLA in Kerala
Suresh Gopi – BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala; National Award-winning superstar actor
Richard Hay – BJP Loksabha MP from Kerala, second Malayalee nominated as Anglo Indian MP
V Muraleedharan – Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala
Alphonse Kannanthanam – former Central Tourism, IT, Electronics Minister; BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala

Award winners

Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

Padma Vibhushan

thumb|130px|Adoor Gopalakrishnan

The Padma Vibhushan is India's second highest civilian honour.

V.K. Krishna Menon – Public Affairs (1954)
John Matthai – Literature & Education (1959)
Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan (K. R. Ramanathan) – Science & Engineering (1976)
Mambillikalathil Kumar Menon (M. G. K. Menon) – Civil Service (1985)
V. R. Krishna Iyer – Public Affairs (1999)
Kakkadan Nandanath Raj (K. N. Raj) – Literature & Education (2000)
Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Arts (2006)
George Sudarshan – Science & Engineering (2007)
ONV Kurup – Literature & Education (2011)
K. J. Yesudas – singing (2017)

Padma Bhushan

thumb|130px|M. S. Valiathan

The Padma Bhushan is India's third highest civilian honour. (This is not a complete list.)

Vallathol Narayana Menon – Literature & Education (1954); poet (Mahakavi)
Lakshmi Nandan Menon (Lakshmi N. Menon) – Public Affairs (1957)
Kumar Padma Siva Shankara Menon (K. P. S. Menon (senior)) – Civil Service (1958)
Mannathu Padmanabhan, (Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai) – Social Work (1966)
K.P. Kesava Menon – Public Affairs (1966)
Govinda Shankara Kurup (G. Sankara Kurup) – Literature & Education (1968); poet
Poyipilli Kunju Kurup, (Guru Kunchu Kurup) – Arts (1971)
Kandathil Mammen Cherian – Literature & Education (1971)
Pothan Joseph – Literature & Education (1973)
George Sudarshan – Literature & Education (1976)
Prem Nazir – Arts (1983); actor
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai – Literature & Education; (1985) novelist and short story writer
Nalapat Balamani Amma – Literature & Education (1987); poet
Marathanda Verma Sankaran Valiathan, (M. S. Valiathan) – Medicine (1990)
Thomas Kailath – Science and Engineering (2009)
Thayil Jacob Sony George (T. J. S. George) – Literature & Education (2011)
K.J. Yesudas – Arts (2002); classical singer and musician
Jacob Cherian – Social Work (1999)
Mohanlal Viswanathan Arts (2019); Art, film Acting
S Nambi Narayan (Nambi Narayanan) – (2019); Science & Engineering-Space (This is not a complete list.)
K. Shankar Pillai - Arts (1954)
Perakath Verghese Benjamin – Medicine (1955)
M. G. K. Menon - Science (1961)
Guru Kunchu Kurup – Arts (1965)
Kandathil Mammen Cherian – Literature & Education (1965)
C.K. Nair Alias V. Kunchu Nair – Arts (1971)
Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair – Arts, poet and actor (1973)
Mani Madhava Chakyar – Arts, Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu (1974)
K.J. Yesudas – Arts, classical singer and musician (1975)
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer – Literature & Education (1982)
Manathoor Devasia Valsamma, M. D. Valsamma – Sports (1983)
Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Arts (1984); director, screenwriter, producer
P. T. Usha – Sports (1985)
Bharath Gopi – Arts (1991); actor
P. I. Mohammed Kutty (Mammootty) – Arts (1998); actor
Viswanathan Mohanlal – Arts (2001); actor
Rajagopalan Krishnan Vaidyan – Ayurveda (2003)
Shobana Chandrakumar – Arts (2006); actress and Bharatanatyam dancer
Sugathakumari – Literature & Education (2006)
T. K. Alex – Science and Technology (2007)
Thilakan – Arts, actor (2009)
K. Viswanathan – Social Service (2009)
Palpu Pushpangadan – Science and Engineering (2010)
Resul Pokutty – Arts (2010); sound editor
K. S. Chithra – Arts (2005); singer
Balachandra Menon – Arts (2007); acting, direction, script writer
Shaji N.Karun – Arts (2011); director/cinematographer
Jose Chacko Periappuram – Medicine (2011); first heart transplant Kerala
Gopalan Nair Shankar – Science and Engineering (2011); architecture
Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri – Arts (2012); Indian classical dance – Kutiyattam
Soman Nair Priyadarsan – Arts (2012); cinema direction
J. Hareendran Nair – Medicine (2012); Ayurveda
Pepita Seth – Literature and Education (2012)
Madhu – Arts (2013)
Padma Shri Kalamandalam Kshemavathy – Arts; dance
K. P. Haridas – Medicine (2015); surgery
Jayaram – Arts, cinema acting
N. Balakrishnan Nair – Medicine (1984)
R.K. Krishna Kumar – contributions to Indian trade and industry (2009)
K. K. Muhammed – Others – Archaeology (2019)

Thomas Kailath (2012) – presented by President Barack Obama in 2014 for "transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry"

Academy Awards

The Academy Awards also known as the Oscars are a set of 24 awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry, given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the academy's voting membership.

Resul Pookutty – Best Sound Mixing (2009) along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in Slumdog Millionaire

Booker Prize

The Booker Prize (formerly known as the Booker–McConnell Prize and the Booker Prize for Fiction) is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the UK.

Arundhati Roy – awarded the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel The God of Small Things

Government and world organisations

Deputy Collector

Choorayi Kanaran– (1812–1876) was the first Deputy Collector of India.

Indian Administrative Service

Moorkoth Ramunni –(1915-2009 the first Indian Administrative officer (IAS) from dharmadam village.

Indian Police Service

K. Koshy - Director General Police (BPRD)

Members of the Imperial Civil Service

K P S Menon Sr. – First Foreign Secretary of India and the 1st Ambassador of India to China
V. P. Menon – Political Reforms Commissioner to the Viceroy of India Lord Louis Mountbatten
N. R. Pillai – First Cabinet Secretary (1950–1953)
M. K. Vellodi – Third Cabinet Secretary (1957–1958)

Civil Services of India

Cabinet Secretaries

Sir N R Pillai – first Cabinet Secretary of India
T.N.Seshan – 18th Cabinet Secretary (1989–1989)
K. M. Chandrasekhar – 29th Cabinet Secretary (2007–2011)

Members

thumb|right|130px|Shivshankar Menon

thumb|Gita Gopinath

P.J Thomas Parakunnel – first Chief Economic Advisor of India
T. K. A. Nair – former adviser and principal secretary to the prime minister of India
Anna Malhotra – first female member of the Indian Administrative Service
Shivshankar Menon – National Security Advisor to the prime minister of India
Jyotindra Dixit – former National Security Advisor to the prime minister of India
Nirupama Rao – Ambassador of India to United States of America
Ranjan Mathai – 28th foreign secretary of India
Gopal Pillai – former Home Secretary of India
Kavalam Panikkar – former Home Secretary of India
Hormis Tharakan – former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing
P. J. Thomas – 14th Central Vigilance Commissioner of India
R.B. Sreekumar – former Director General of Police of Gujarat
Abdul Rahman – former Director General of Police of Karnataka
Letika Saran – former Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu
Moorkoth Ramunni – fourth Administrator of Lakshadweep

Members of the United Nations

thumb|130px|Shashi Tharoor

Chandran Nair – Civil servant with UNESCO (1981–2004)
Vijay K. Nambiar – Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2012)
Shashi Tharoor – Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2001–2007)
Ajay Prabhakar – Country Programme Coordinator of the United Nations (2001–2014)

International Monetary Fund

Gita Gopinath – First woman Chief Economist of the IMF (2019–)

Military leaders

Early Modern Period

Edachena Kunkan – Chieftain of Nair clan and military commander of Pazhassi Raja
Thalakkal Chanthu – Chieftain of Kurichya clan and military commander of Pazhassi Raja
Iravikkutti Pillai – Commander-in-Chief of the Venad Kingdom of present-day Kerala, India

Contemporary period

Army

Sushil Kumar Pillai - Indian Army General, Colonel of the Assam Regiment from 1987 to 1991 and was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1989.
Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair - most decorated officer of the Indian Army, as the only serviceman to have been awarded both the highest (Ashoka Chakra) and second highest (Kirti Chakra) awards for gallantry.
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan – 22nd General of the Indian Army and Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (2000–2002)
Lieutenant General Philip Campose – Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army
Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar – Head of Mission of the United Nations Protection Force (1992–1993)
Major General Jai Shanker Menon – Head of Mission and Force Commander of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
Lieutenant General Bobby Cherian Mathews – General officer commanding of Konark Corps
Lieutenant General G.M. Nair – Military Secretary of India (2010-?)
Lieutenant General K.P. Candeth – Deputy Chief of Army Staff (1965–1971?)
Havildar Thomas Philipose – medal winner in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Air Force

Moorkoth Ramunni (15 September 1915 – 9 July 2009) was the first Malayali pilot in the Royal Indian Air Force.
Air Marshal K.N. Nair – Commanding-in Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Narayan Menon – Air Officer-in-Charge (Personnel), Air Headquarters (1999–2004)

Navy

R. Hari Kumar - 25th Chief of the Naval Staff
Admiral Ronald Lynsdale Pereira – 9th Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy (1979–1982), former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), Eastern Naval Command, former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command and former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command
Vice-Admiral K. N. Sushil – former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command
Radhika Menon – India's first female Merchant Navy captain.

Jurists

Chief Justice

India

K. G. Balakrishnan – 37th Chief Justice of India (2007–2010)

Singapore

Sundaresh Menon – 4th Chief Justice of Singapore (2012-present)

Judges of the Supreme Court of India

thumb|130px|Justice M. Fathima Beevi

K. K. Mathew (1971–1976)
V.R. Krishna Iyer (1973–1980)
V. Balakrishna Eradi (1981–1987)
M. Fathima Beevi (1989–1992) – first woman Judge of the Supreme Court of India
K. S. Paripoornan (1994–1997)
Kurian Joseph (2013–)

Women Judges of the Supreme Court of India

M. Fathima Beevi (1989–1992) – First woman Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Women Judges of the High Court

Smt. Justice Anna Chandy – Judge of the High Court of Kerala (1959–1967) and the first woman in India to be a judge of a High Court
Kumari Justice P. Janaki Amma – second woman Judge of the High Court of Kerala (1974–1982)

Academia

Ancient mathematicians

Madhava of Sangamagrama (c.1350–c.1425) – astronomer-mathematician
Vatasseri Parameshvara Nambudiri (<abbr>c.</abbr> 1380–1460) – major Indian mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics
Nilakantha Somayaji (14 June 1444 – 1544), major astronomer-mathematician of Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics
Jyeshtadeva (c. 1500–c. 1610) – astronomer-mathematician of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics; author of a treatise on calculus
Achyutha Pisharadi (c. 1550 at thrikkandiyur (aka Kundapura), Tirur, Kerala, India – 7 July 1621 in Kerala) Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer, astronomer and mathematician
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (1560–1646/1666) – member of Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics and a mathematical linguist

Scientists

K. R. Ramanathan – physicist, meteorologist and first director of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad; President of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (1954–57)
Priya Abraham – virologist, former director of National Institute of Virology.
V. R. Lalithambika (1962–) – Indian scientist working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); will lead the Gaganyaan mission as the director of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme which is intended to send Indian astronauts in the space by 2022
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan – space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 1994–2003 He is presently Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan. He is the former chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and the chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission. He is a former member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–09) and a former member of the now defunct Planning Commission of India. He was also the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, from April 2004 to 2009.
Janaki Ammal (4 November 1897 – 7 February 1984) was the first women Indian botanist who obtain a PhD in botany in the U.S. and worked on plant breeding, cytogenetics and phytogeography in India. Her most notable work involved studies on sugarcane and the eggplant (brinjal).

Faculty

thumb|right|130px|Thomas Kailath

George Sudarsan – Padma Vibhushan Emeritus professor
Thomas Kailath – Padma Bhushan; Professor of Engineering
Faisal Kutty – Professor of Law
George Varghese – Professor of Computer Science
K. Mani Chandy – Professor of Computer Science
Mathai Varghese – Professor of Mathematics
Paul A. Kattuman – Professor of Economics
Pulickel Ajayan – Professor of Engineering
Kurien Kunnumpuram – Professor of Theology
John Vattanky – Professor of Philosophy
Thomas Zacharia – computer scientist
T. Pradeep – Professor of Chemistry
Shree K. Nayar – Professor of Computer Science

thumb|right|150px|V.C. Samuel

Rev. Fr. Dr. V.C. Samuel – Theologian, Historian, Author, Polyglot and Ecumenical Leader
P. N. Vinayachandran – Associate Professor of Oceanography
Thanu Padmanabhan – professor
Kuruvilla Pandikattu – Professor of Philosophy
G. Balakrish Nair – director
Prahlad Vadakkepat – professor and robotics scientist
K. R. K. Easwaran – Astra Chair Professor of the Indian Institute of Science

Heads of institutions

John Palocaren – founding principal of St. Thomas College, Thrissur
Mathai Varghese – director of the Institute for Geometry and its Applications (IGA), Adelaide
Eluvathingal Devassy Jemmis – director of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram
M. G. K. Menon – former president of the Indian Statistical Institute
V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai – 6th vice chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University
Salim Gangadharan – chairman, South Indian Bank and regional director, Kerala and Lakshadweep

Medical sciences

Dr.Ayyathan Gopalan - First male doctor and Surgeon of Kerala, First Indian superintendent and Psychiatrist of Calicut mental Asylum (Kuthiravattom mental hospital), medical school professor and social reformer of Kerala.
Dr.Ayyathan Janaki Ammal (1881–1945) was the first female doctor in Kerala.
Abraham Verghese – Professor of Medicine and Senior Associate Chair of Department of Internal Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine
Mani Menon – Director of the Vattikuti Urology Institute at the Henry Ford Hospital
Thomas Thomas – first Indian cardio-thoracic surgeon
M. Krishnan Nair – leading oncologist
M. S. Valiathan – cardiac surgeon; former vice chancellor, Manipal University
R. Kesavan Nair – Kerala's first civil surgeon
Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier – Ayurvedic physician and founder of the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala
Salim Yusuf – Director of Population Health Research Institute, Canada
Rajagopalan Krishnan Vaidyan – Ayurvedic physician
Mohan D. Nair – Indian pharmaceutical scientist and author

Nivedita Menon – feminist writer; professor of political thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Business and commerce

Rajeev Madhavan – entrepreneur
Rajesh Gopinathan – CEO of Tata Consultancy Services
Thomas Kurian – Global President of Product Development at Oracle Corporation
Reji Abraham – Managing Director of ABAN Group of Companies
C J George – founder and CEO of Geojit Financial Services
Kris Gopalakrishnan – Co-chairman and former CEO of Infosys Technologies
S. D. Shibulal – CEO and managing director of Infosys Technologies
RK Krishna Kumar – trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust
R Gopalakrishnan – Executive Director of Tata Sons
B. Ravi Pillai – Indian business magnate
George Alexander Muthoot – Managing Director of Muthoot Finance & Muthoot Group
Verghese Kurien – founder Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.
Thakiyudeen Wahid – owner of East West Airlines
K.M. Mammen Mappilai – founder of MRF Tyres and Manorama publications
C. P. Krishnan Nair – founder of the Leela Group of Hotels
Rajmohan Pillai – Chairman of Beta Group
Kochouseph Chittilappilly – Managing Director of V Guard Industries Ltd
M. A. Yousuf Ali – founder of EMKE Group, Lulu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets in United Arab Emirates
Beena Kannan – Managing Director and Lead Designer of Seematti
Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai or "Coffee House Pillai" – co-founder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala
Byju Raveendran – founder of Think and Learn Private Ltd, popularly known as BYJU'S - The Learning App, the first investment in Asia from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative It is considered to be one among the only few Indian consumer startups that has gone global, particularly with the 2017 acquisition of TutorVista.
Ajit Balakrishnan – founder and Chairman of Rediff
Dileep K Nair – first Chancellor of North East Frontier Technical University; publisher of The Engineers Outlook Magazine
PNC Menon – founder of Sobha Developers Limited
Arun M. Kumar – chairman and chief executive officer at KPMG India
Mathunny Mathews – former MD of Al-Sayer Group; former chairman of Jabriya Indian School; co-founder of Indian Arts Circle, Kuwait

Independence activists

thumb|right|130px|Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair – KCIE, President of the Indian National Congress (1897–1898)
Lakshmi Sehgal – as Captain Lakshmi, she commanded the Jhansi Rani Regiment of the INA under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai - the president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee from 1949-1951
N.P. Nayar – administrator of Azad Hind Dal
K. Kelappan - freedom fighter
K. P. Kesava Menon – founder-editor of the Mathrubhumi newspaper
A. K. Gopalan Nambiar – founder leader of the Communist Party of India
K. Kumar (Kumarji) – Gandhian nationalist, orator and reformer who revived the banned Swadeshabhimani newspaper
Veliyankode Umar Khasi – mystic leader and Muslim scholar, freedom fighter and poet
Ammu Swaminathan
Accamma Cherian – Jhansi Rani of Travancore
Mohammed Abdul Rahiman – freedom fighter and former KPCC President
Vakkom Majeed – former member of Travancore-Cochin State Assembly
T. M. Varghese – Minister of Travancore-Cochin
George Joseph – lawyer, trade unionist and nationalist activist
C. Kesavan – Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin
K. Kelappan – leader of the Payyanur Salt Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer – Malayalam fiction writer, humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer
Velu Thampi Dalava
Ammu Swaminathan
A. J. John, Anaparambil
Nettur. P. Damodaran – social worker
Moidu Moulavi – leader of the Indian National Congress

thumb|right|130px|Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Adi Sankara (788–820) – saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India
Ayyankali – leader of Dalits
DR.Ayyathan Gopalan (1861-1948) - Social reformer, Founder of Sugunavardhini movement, Depressed Classes Mission, Leader and Propagandist of Brahmosamaj in Kerala.
Kallingal Madathil Rarichan Moopan - (1856–1919) Kozhikode social reformer and Sreekandeswara Temple construction activity.
K. M. Seethi – Saheb Bahadur, usually referred to as Seethi Saheb
Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1925) – social reformer
C. Kesavan – Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin, 1951–1952
Kuriakose Elias Chavara – social reformer and Syrian Catholic saint
Lalithambika Antharjanam – social reformer and writer
K. P. Kesava Menon – founder of Mathrubhumi daily
K. Kumar (Elanthoor Kumarji) – freedom fighter and social-reformer who worked for Harijan upliftment and communal harmony
K. Kelappan – freedom fighter and social reformer
Mathai Manjooran (1912–1970) – socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry
Mannathu Padmanabhan – founder of Nair Service Society
M. C. Joseph – rationalist, founding editor of Yukthivadi
Nawab Rajendran – social activist
Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) – pivotal figure in the Renaissance of Kerala, social reformer, scholar, teacher, saint and Vedantin
Sahodaran Ayyappan – social reformer, follower of Sri Narayana Guru
Nataraja Guru – disciple of Narayana Guru
Vakkom Moulavi (1877–1933) – social reformer, educationist, writer and journalist
Abraham Barak Salem – Zionist, Indian nationalist, leader of the Jewish community and social activist

Religion and spirituality

Hinduism

Adi Sankara (788–820) – saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India
Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1924) – Hindu sage and social reformer
Vagbhatananda (1885 – October 1939) was a Hindu religious leader and Social reformer in British India.
Sree Narayana Guru (1854–1928) – founder of Sivagiri Mutt and social reformer of India
Tapovan Maharaj (1889–1957) – teacher of Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Sundaranand
Swami Ranganathananda (1908–2005) – 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission
Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999) – spiritual teacher, developed passage meditation used across traditions
Chinmayananda (1916–1993) – founder of Chinmaya Mission
Nitya Chaitanya Yati (1924–1999) – exponent of Advaita Vedanta
Karunakara Guru (1927–1999) – spiritual leader, founder of Santhigiri Ashram
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (1933–) – spiritual leader and the founder of Narayanashrama Tapovanam
Swami Abhedananda Abhedashramam Thriruvanthapuram
Mata Amritanandamayi (1953–) – spiritual leader and founder of Mata Amritanandamayi Math popularly known as Amma

Islam

Panakkad Thangal
Ahmad Kutty – Islamic scholar
Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar – Grand Mufti of India
Cherussery Musliyar
KT Manu Musliar
Kalambadi Muhammad Musliyar
Ullal Thangal
Hyderali Shihab Thangal
Chekannur Maulavi – progressive Islamic cleric
MM Akbar – Muslim intellectual, comparative religion scholar
Abdul Hakeem Azhari - Islamic scholar
Kanniyath Ahmed Musliyar - Islamic Scholar
E. K. Aboobacker Musliyar - Community Leader
Hussain Madavoor - Islamic Scholar
Ibraheem Khaleel Al Bukhari - Islamic Scholar

Christianity

Philipose Mar Chrysostom – Grand Metropolitan of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church and Marthoma XX
Mar Yohannan Yoseph – Episcopal Bishop of the Holy Assyrian Church of the East
Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception – first woman of Indian origin to be canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church
Baselios Cleemis – Cardinal-Priest of the Church of Saint Gregory VII
Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II – Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Baselios Thomas I – Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni) – First Indian canonized saint by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
George Alencherry – Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme
Joseph Mar Thoma – primate of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church
Joy Alappatt – Syro-Malabar Catholic bishop in the United States
Joseph Parecattil – inducted as Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in June 1988
KP Yohannan – Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church
Kuriakose Elias Chavara – Syro-Malabar Catholic Church saint and social reformer
K.V. Simon – Kerala Brethren pioneer
Mar Gregory Karotemprel – Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Rajkot
P.C. John – Kerala Brethren pioneer
Saint Euphrasia – Indian Carmelite nun of the Syro-Malabar Church
Varkey Vithayathil – former Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme
Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly – elevated as Venerable by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Palackal Thoma – Indian Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church based in India
Theodosius Mar Thoma-[Marthoma Church]- primate of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church

PRDS

Poykayil Yohannan aka Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan – activist, poet and the founder of the socio-religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha

Literature and writing

Writers

thumb|right|130px|[[Chandiroor Divakaran]]

Ajay Prabhakar – international author and researcher
A. R. Raja Raja Varma – linguist and grammarian
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri – Malayalam poet; winner of the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for Malayalam in 1973
Appu Nedungadi – author of Kundalatha, the first Malayalam novel
Anita Nair – writer
Arundhati Roy – actress turned writer, awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 for The God of Small Things, which is set in Kerala
Balachandran Chullikkadu – poet
Balamani Amma – poet; won the literary medal in India, the Saraswathi Samman
Chandiroor Divakaran – poet, folk songwriter and 2011 Ambedkar Award winner
Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911–1948) – poet, author of the pastoral elegy "Ramanan" (1936)
Cherusseri Namboothiri – poet, author of Krishnagaadha (The Song of Krishna)
D. Vinayachandran – poet
Edasseri Govindan Nair – poet and playwright
Faisal Kutty – lawyer, professor and columnist
G. Sankara Kurup – poet
George Menachery – historian, editor of The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, editor of The Indian Church History Classics (The Nazranies)
Gopi Kottoor – internationally renowned poet
Hassan Thikkodi – writer, poet, Chairman of MES Raja Residential School
Hameed Chennamangaloor – writer, progressive Muslim intellectual, critic of religious fundamentalism
E. Harikumar – novelist and short story writer
Ilango Adigal – author of Silappatikaram, one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature; identifies himself as a Chera prince from the 2nd century CE
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan – Malayalam poet
Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar – poet
Kamala Das – English poet and novelist; also wrote in Malayalam under the pen-name Madhavikkutty; first Indian woman to openly write about women's sexuality; embraced Islam under the name Kamala Suraiyya in 1999; Asian Poetry Prize, 1964; Kent Award, 1965
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai – social thinker, literary critic
Kottarathil Sankunni – well known author of Malayalam literature. He made significant contributions in both poetry and prose. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a quarter of a century. "Aithihyamala" (Garland of Legends) is a collection of stories of legends prepared by Kottarathil Sankunni. The works on the legends were collected and published by Sankunni in the famous Malayalam literary magazine of the nineteenth century, the Bhashaposhini.
Kumaran Asan – poet, also called Mahakavi Kumaran Asan, died at age 51 in a boat (named Redeemer) accident en route Alapuzha to Kollam in January 1924
Kunjunni – Malayalam poet
N. S. Madhavan – writer and civil servant
Manu S Pillai – author of “The Ivory Throne”
M. Krishnan Nair – literary critic
M. Mukundan – novelist
Moothiringode Bhavathrāthan Namboothiripad – author and social
Moyinkutty Vaidyar – poet
M. P. Parameswaran – scientist turned social activist
M. P. Paul – literary critic
M. T. Vasudevan Nair – writer and cinema personality; Jnanpith Award, 1995
Nalankal Krishna Pillai - writer and educationist
Nanditha K. S. – poet
Niranam Poets – three Malayali poets, Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar of the Kannassa family; they lived between AD 1350 and 1450 in the Niranam village of Tiruvalla
Nitya Chaitanya Yati – scholar and monk
O. Chandumenon – novelist
O. V. Vijayan – novelist and cartoonist
O. N. V. Kurup
P. C. Devassia (1906–2006) – Sanskrit scholar and poet who won the Sahitya Akademi Award (1980) for Sanskrit for his poem "Kristubhagavatam"
P. Parameswaran – director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram; former president of Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari; also known as Parameswarji
P. F. Mathews – novelist, short story writer and screenwriter
P. K. Gopi – poet
P. M. Taj – writer
Paul Zacharia – writer
Poonthanam – poet belonging to the Bhakti school
Sarah Joseph – writer, Novelist, Sahitya Academy winner
Shashi Tharoor – novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1991; previous Under-Secretary-General (Communication and Public Information) of the United Nations, Deputy Minister of External affairs
S. K. Pottekkatt – author winner of the Jnanpith award of 1980
Shreekumar Varma – novelist, award-winning playwright, poet, children's author
Sugathakumari – Indian poet and activist
Sukumar Azhikode – teacher, critic and orator
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai – novelist and short story writer; Jnanpith Award in 1984
Thirunalloor Karunakaran – poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual
Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan – architect of modern Malayalam; poet
Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer – poet
Uroob – writer, novelist, Sahitya Academy winner, winner of president of India's silver medal
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer – writer, philosopher
Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi – publisher, social reformer, and a leader of the progressive Islahi Movement in Kerala
Vallathol Narayana Menon – Mahaakavi; founder of Kerala Kalamandalam,
Vayalar Ramavarma – lyricist
Vayalar Sarath Chandra varma – Malayalam film
Vijayan, M. N – writer, literary critic, social activist
Vrindavanam Venugopalan – writer, journalist and educationalist
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon – Malayalam poet
V. Madhusoodanan Nair – Malayalam poet and winner of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam in 2019
Yusuf Ali Kechery – poet, lyricist

Journalists

O. Abdurahman – Editor-in-charge of Madhyamam
Sunnykutty Abraham – COO and Chief News Editor of Jaihind TV; political analyst
BRP Bhaskar - senior journalist and human rights-social activist
T. N. Gopakumar – Editor-in-Chief, Asianet News
K. Kumar of Travancore – Gandhian reformer, nationalist and Freedom Fighter who revived and edited "Swadeshabhimani" run by the deported Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishnana Pillai
Faisal Kutty – lawyer and columnist for Express Tribune, Toronto Star, Middle East Eye and Madhyamam Daily
V. K. Madhavan Kutty – Former Editor of the Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, and a founder director of satellite channel Asianet
K. C. Mammen Mappillai – founder of Malayala Manorama
Sebastian Paul – Media critic
Nisha Pillai – BBC newsreader
Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai the deported nationalist who edited the Swadeshabhimani newspaper

Film and media

alt=|thumb|Mohanlal and Mammootty

Models

Divya Pillai
Lakshmi Menon
Nafisa Joseph
Neeta Pillai
Nina Manuel
Parvathy Omanakuttan
Rhea Pillai
Sana Khan
Sheetal Menon
Surelee Joseph
Thulasi Nair

Actresses

Ambika
Ambika Sukumaran
Anaswara Rajan
Ann Augustine
Anna Ben
Anna Reshma
Annie
Anumol
Annu Antony
Asin
Bhama Kurup
Bhavana
Catherine Tresa
Deepthi Sathi
Gayatri
Geetu Mohandas – Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress 2004
Ivana
Jayabharathi Pillai
K. P. A. C. Lalitha – National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (1990)
Karthika Nair
Kalpana
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kavya Madhavan
Keerthy Suresh
Lakshmi Menon
Lalitha
Liza Koshy
Mohamallika Pillai (Mallika Sukumaran)
Manju Warrier – Special Jury Award (National)
Mamitha Baiju
Meera Jasmine – National Film Award for Best Actress (2004)
Megha Akash
Monisha Unni – National Film Award for Best Actress (1986)
Nalini
Namitha Pramod
Navya Nair
Nayantara man
Nazriya Nazim
Neha Dhupia
Nithya Menen
Nivetha Thomas
Nimisha sajayan
Nikhila
Padmini
Parvathy Jayaram
Ragini
Radha
Remya Nambeesan
Revathi Menon
Rejisha
Rima Kallingal
Samvrutha Sunil
Samantha
Samyuktha varma
Samyuktha menon
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai – Padma Shri recipient, National Film Award for Best Actress (1993, 2001)
Shweta Menon
Siddhi Mahajankatti
Sindhu Menon
Suchitra Pillai
Sukumari – Padma Shri recipient
Trisha Krishnan
Urvashi – National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (2005)
Uma Shankari
Unni Mary
Vidya Balan

Actors

Balachandra Menon – Padma Shri recipient; National Award winner for acting and direction; holder of a world record
Bharath Gopi – actor, Padma Shri recipient and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1977
Shankar (actor) – Romantic Hero of Malayalam in the eighties.
Dulquer Salmaan
Dhruv Vikram
Fahadh Faasil
Jagathy Sreekumar
Jayan
Jayaram – Padma Shri recipient
Jayasurya – actor, winner of the national for Special Jury Mention in 2016
John Abraham – Bollywood actor
Kalabhavan Mani – actor; National Award for special jury
M.N. Nambiar
Madhu – actor, winner of Padma Shri
Mammootty – Padma Shri recipient; three-time National Award winner
Mohanlal – Padma Bhushan ,Padma Shri recipient; two-time National Film Award winner
Murali – actor and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 2002
Naveen Andrews – Hollywood actor
Nedumudi Venu
Nivin Pauly
Prem Nazir – Padma Bhushan recipient; holds four Guinness records
Premji – stage and film actor
Prithviraj Sukumaran – actor; Kerala
State Award winner 2006
Reghuvaran
Roshan Mathew
Salim Kumar – actor, winner of the national award for Best Actor in 2010
Sathyan
Shishir Kurup – Hollywood actor
Suraj Sharma – Hollywood and Bollywood actor
Suraj Venjaramoodu – actor and winner of the National award for Best Actor in 2013
Suresh Gopi – actor and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1998
Suresh Menon – Bollywood comedian and actor
Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair – Padma Shri recipient; actor; winner of the national award for Best Supporting Actor in 1959
Tovino Thomas

Film producer and directors

Alberrt Antoni – film director
Appachan – film director and producer
Bejoy Nambiar – film director
Benny Mathews – Hollywood director
Bharath Gopi – film, drama producer, director and actor
Bharathan – filmmaker
Blessy – filmmaker
Fazil – film director and writer
G. Aravindan – film director and cartoonist
G. Devarajan – music director
Gowtham Menon – Tamil film director
I.V. Sasi – film director
Jayaraj – director
John Matthew Matthan – Hindi film director
Joshiy – film director
K P Kumaran – filmmaker
Kunchacko – film producer
Lohithadas – film director and writer
Madhu Muttam – script writer
Mira Nair – Hollywood film director, BAFTA Award recipient
M. Night Shyamalan – Hollywood film director
M. T. Vasudevan Nair – writer and cinema personality; Jnanpith Award, 1995
P.F. Mathews – script writer, recipient of National Award
P.T.Kunju Muhammed – film director and writer
P. Padmarajan (1945–1991) – film director
Priyadarshan – film director
Rajeev Ravi – cinematographer, director, producer, National Film Award for Best Cinematography
Ranjith – film director and writer
Resul Pookutty – sound engineer, first Oscar-winning Indian (for film Slumdog Millionaire)
Rosshan Andrrews – director
Rupesh Paul – Hollywood director
Sabu Cyril – art director
Sangeeth Sivan – director
Santosh Sivan – director and cinematographer
Sathyan Anthikkad – Malayalam film director
Shaji Kylas – action film director
Shajith Koyeri – National Film Awards-winning sound designer
Shaji N. Karun – film director
Sibi Malayil – Malayalam film director
Siddique – filmmaker
Sohanlal – director and writer
Sreenivasan – writer, director and actor
TK Rajeev Kumar – filmmaker

Music

thumbnail|K.S. Chithra, singer

Alex Paul – music director
Arun alat
Benny Dayal – playback singer
Berny-Ignatius – music director duo
Chitra – playback singer
Deepak Dev – music composer, playback singer
Dibu ninan thomas
G. Venugopal – playback singer
Gireesh Puthenchery – lyricist and writer
Gopi Sundar – music director and keyboard artist
Jassie Gift – music composer, playback singer
Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri – lyricist
Kapil kapilan
Kannur Rajan – music composer
Kozhikode Abdul Kader – playback singer
KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath) – playback singer
M. G. Sreekumar – playback singer and music director
M. Jayachandran – music director and playback singer
Madhu Balakrishnan – playback singer
Manjari Babu – playback singer
Mridula Warrier – playback singer
Nikhil Mathew – playback singer
Ouseppachan – music director
P. Jayachandran – playback singer
Pradip Somasundaran – playback singer
Rahul Raj – music composer, playback singer
Raveendran – music director
Sabrina Setlur – German rapper and singer
Sharreth – music director and playback singer
Sruthy Sasidharan – playback singer
Stephen Devassy – pianist, music composer
Sudeep Kumar – playback singer
Sujatha Mohan – playback singer
Swetha Mohan – playback singer
Unni Menon – playback singer
Unnikrishnan – playback singer
Vaishnav Girish – playback singer
Vayalar Ramavarma – lyricist
Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma – lyricist
Vidhu Prathap – playback singer
Vijay Yesudas – playback singer
Yesudas – classical singer and musician

Artists, architects, painters, sculptors

Painters

Raja Ravi Varma
K. C. S. Paniker – founder of Cholamandal Artists' Village
Namboothiri – painter, cartoonist and sculptor
T. K. Padmini
A. Ramachandran
C. N. Karunakaran – Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academi
Akkitham Narayanan
Balan Nair
Sekar Ayyanthole – art teacher, former president of Kerala Chithrakala Parishath
M. V. Devan – artist and writer
Bose Krishnamachari
Paris Viswanathan
Yusuf Arakkal
Kavitha Balakrishnan – artist and art historian
V. S. Valiathan – artist, Raja Ravivarma award winner
C.L Porinchukutty – Raja Ravi Varma Awardee for 2011
K. Janardanan<!-- Chitra Ramanathan - Contemporary artist, painter

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Architects

Eugene Pandala – architect and artist

Sculptors

Kanayi Kunhiraman – sculptor, former chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academy
Balan Nambiar – sculptor, painter and research scholar
Sasikrishnan – sculptor

Cartoonists

Abu Abraham – cartoonist
Cartoonist Shankar (1902–1989) – political cartoonist
K. S. Pillai (1919–1978) – political cartoonist
O. V. Vijayan – Cartoonist, writer
P. K. Manthri – artist, cartoonist
Gopikrishnan – cartoonist
Dr. Jitheshji – World's Fastest Performing cartoonist & World Record holder in Speed Drawing
Yesudasan – cartoonist; former chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academy

Sports

Athletics

Anil Kumar
Anilda Thomas
Anju Bobby George
Bobby Aloysius
C. K. Lakshmanan
Chitra K. Soman
Ivan Jacob
Jincy Phillip
Jisna Mathew
Joseph Abraham
K.M. Beenamol
K. M. Binu
K. T. Irfan
M. D. Valsamma
Mayookha Johny
Mercy Kuttan
Mohammad Anas
Molly Chacko
O. P. Jaisha
P. T. Usha
P. U. Chitra
Preeja Sreedharan
Renjith Maheshwary
Rosa Kutty
Shiny Abraham
Sini Jose
Sinimol Paulose
Suresh Babu
T. C. Yohannan
Tintu Lukka

Badminton

George Thomas
Jaseel P. Ismail
P. C. Thulasi
Prannoy H. S.
Sanave Thomas
U. Vimal Kumar
V. Diju

Basketball

Geethu Anna Jose (C)
P. S. Jeena (C)

Canoeing

Siji Kumar Sadanandan

Chess

Arjun Vishnuvardhan
Geetha Narayanan Gopal
N R Anil Kumar
Nihal Sarin
Soumya Swaminathan

Cricket