List of known Tamils

List of known Tamils , including those who have emigrated .

Heads of state

APJ Abdul Kalam (1931–2015), 11th President of India (2002–2007)
Sellapan Ramanathan (1924-2016), 6th President of Singapore (1999-2011)
R. Venkataraman (1910–2009), 8th President of India (1987–1992)
S. Radhakrishnan (1888–1975), 2nd President of India (1962–1967)
C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), Governor General of India (1948–1950), writer and statesman
Veerasamy Ringadoo (1920–2000), Governor General and President of Mauritius
Angidi Veeriah Chettiar (1928-2010), Vice President of Mauritius

Personalities in independence movements

Wars against British rule in India in the 18th century

The Maruthu Pandiyar brothers (1748 and 1753-1801 ), princes and military leaders

Dheeran Chinnamalai (1756–1805), prince and military leader

Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1760–1799), prince and military leader

Indian independence movement in the 20th century

VO Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), lawyer, entrepreneur and union leader

Subramaniya Bharati (1882-1921), poet

V. Kalyanasundaram (1883-1953), writer

Subramanya Siva (1884-1925), poet

S. Satyamurti (1887–1943), Congress Party politician

Champakaraman Pillai (1891–1934), activist in the Indo-German conspiracy in the First World War

Tiruppur Kumaran (1904–1932), fatally injured in a demonstration

U. Muthuramalingam Thevar (1908-1965), politician of the All India Forward Bloc

South African independence movement

Thillaiaadi Valliammai (1898–1914), political demonstrator, died after imprisonment
Thambi Naidoo , former companion of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa
Naransamy Roy Naidoo (1901–1953), union leader and anti-apartheid activist
Amma Naidoo (1908–1993), wife of Naransamy Roy Naidoo and anti-apartheid activist
Gagathura Mohambry "Monty" Naicker (1910–1978), anti-apartheid activist, chairman of the South African Indian Congress and doctor
George Naicker (1919–1998), communist and anti-apartheid activist
Shanti Naidoo , daughter of Naransamy Roy and Amma Naidoo, anti-apartheid activist

Tamil independence movement in Sri Lanka

Velupillai Prabhakaran (1954–2009), leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

SP Tamilselvan , leader of the LTTE political wing

Political leaders

India

Former Chief Minister

K. Kamaraj (1903–1975), President of the Congress Party, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
CN Annadurai (1909–1969), better known as Anna , Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018), leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016), leader of AIADMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2001 and 2002–2006)
O. Panneerselvam (* 1951), former Minister and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2001-2002)
P. Subbarayan , Prime Minister of the Madras Presidency (1926–1930)
PT Rajan , Prime Minister of the Madras Presidency (1936–1936)

Former Minister of the Union Government

C. Subramaniam (1910–2000), former Union Minister, holder of the Bharat Ratna , activist and father of the Indian " Green Revolution "
RK Shanmukham Chetty (1892–1953), first finance minister of independent India
Mohan Kumaramangalam , lawyer, former Union minister and communist leader. Son of P. Subbarayan
Rangarajan Kumaramangalam , Lawyer, Former Union Minister and Congress / BJP Leader. Son of Mohan Kumaramangalam
K. Santhanam (1895–1980), freedom fighter and first rail minister of independent India
TT Krishnamachari (1899–1974), Industrial and Indian Minister of Finance 1956–1958 and 1964–1966,
Murasoli Maran , former Minister of Economy of India

Leaders of major political parties

VR Nedunchezhian former Minister of Finance of Tamil Nadu
Vaiko (* 1944), leader of MDMK
Jana Krishnamurthi (1928–2007), former President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Union Justice Minister
Ramdoss , leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)
K. Veeramani (* 1933), leader of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK)
N. Rangaswamy (born 1950), Chief Minister of Puducherry
Subramanian Swamy (* 1939), leader of the Janatha Party

Interior minister

P. Chidambaram (* 1945), Minister of Finance of India

Mani Shankar Aiyar (* 1941), Panchayat Raj, Youth and Sports Minister of India

Dayanidhi Maran (* 1966), IT and communications minister of India

Anbumani , Leader, Minister of Health of India

TR Baalu (* 1941), Minister of Transport of India

Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan , Minister of Social Affairs of India

A. Raja , Minister for Development and Forestry of India

SS Palanimanickkam , Minister of Finance of India

K. Venkatapathy , Minister of Justice of India

S. Regupathy , Minister of India

EVKS Elangovan , Minister for Textiles of India

GK Vasan , Minister of Statistics and Development of India

R. Velu , Minister of Railways of India

Other countries

S. Jayakumar (* 1939), Deputy Prime Minister, Singapore
Tharman Shanmugaratnam , Minister of Education, Singapore (Sri Lankan Tamil descent)
Vivian Balakrishnan (* 1961), Minister for Development, Youth and Sport, Singapore (half-family, half-Chinese)
S. Rajaratnam (1915-2006), former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (of Sri Lankan Tamil descent)
S. Dhanabalan , Former Minister, Singapore
JB Jeyaretnam , Former Opposition Leader, Singapore (Sri Lankan Tamil descent)
Samy Vellu , Minister of Labor and Leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress , Malaysia
KR Somasundram (* 1930), politician and member of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Malaysia
Radhakrishna Padayachi (* 1950), Deputy Minister for Communication, South Africa
Gunasagaran Gounder , politician and member of the Fiji Labor Party , Fiji
Perumal Mupnar , prominent politician and member of the Fiji Labor Party, Fiji
SJV Chelvanayakam , better known as "Thanthai Chelva", leader and father figure of the Sri Lankan Tamils
S. Thondaman , Sri Lankan Indian Tamil leader 21 years in the Sri Lankan cabinet from 1978
N. Shanmugathasan , prominent communist politician, Sri Lanka
Joseph Pararajasingham (1934-2005), MP, Sri Lanka
Lakshman Kadirgamar (1932–2005), Former Foreign Minister, Sri Lanka
V. Aanandasangari , MP, Sri Lanka
C. Rajadurai , Minister 1977–1994 and MP, Sri Lanka
M. Sivasithamparam , MP and opposition leader in Sri Lanka
R. Sampanthan , MP and opposition leader, Sri Lanka
Neelan Thiruchelvam , Constitutional Expert and MP, Sri Lanka

Appapillai Amirthalingam , opposition leader, Sri Lanka

Douglas Devanandan , EPDP Leader and Minister of Health, Sri Lanka

KW Devanayagam , Minister of the Interior 1977–1988 and MP, Sri Lanka

Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (* 1945), Chief Justice of Mauritius until 2007

military

army

General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam (1913–2000), 7th Chief of Staff of the Indian Army (June 7, 1966– June 7, 1969)
General Krishnaswamy Sundararajan (1930–1999), 14th Chief of Staff of the Indian Army (February 1, 1986– April 30, 1988)
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan (* 1940), 20th Chief of Staff of the Indian Army (September 30, 2000– December 31, 2002)

air force

Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishna Swamy (* 1943), 19th Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force (December 31, 2001– December 31, 2004)

marine

Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson , 12th Chief of Admiralty Staff, Indian Navy (March 1, 1982– November 30, 1984)
Admiral Sushil Kumar , 18th Chief of Admiralty Staff, Indian Navy (December 30, 1998– December 29, 2001)

Award winners

Nobel Prize Winner

CV Raman , Physics - 1930
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar , Physics - 1983 (USA, born and raised in Lahore, Punjab)

Ramon Magsaysay Prize

The Ramon Magsaysay Award was donated in 1957 in memory of Ramon Magsaysay , President of the Philippines . He is often considered the Nobel Prize of Asia .

MS Swaminathan , - 1971
MS Subbulakshmi , Journalism - 1974
RK Laxman , Journalism, Literature, and Creative Arts - 1984
TN Seshan , Political Merit - 1996
Jockin Arputham , Peace and International Understanding - 2000
Aruna Roy , Political Merit - 2000
V. Shanta , Journalism - 2005

Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna is the highest Indian civil honor.

CV Raman Science and Technology - 1954
C. Rajagopalachari Public Affairs - 1954
S. Radhakrishnan Public Affairs - 1954
K. Kamaraj Public Affairs - 1976 ( Posthumous )
MG Ramachandran Public Affairs - 1988 (Posthumous)
APJ Abdul Kalam Science and Technology - 1997
C. Subramaniam Public Affairs - 1998
MS Subbulakshmi Art and Music - 1998

Padma Vibhushan

Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civil honor in India. Selection of the award winners:

Naryana Raghvan Pillai , Public Affairs (1960)
H. Vardaraja Iyengar , civil affairs (1962)
A. Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar , Medicine (1963)
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar , Science and Technology (1968)
KV Kalyana Sundaram , Public Affairs (1968)
P. Prabhakar Kumaramangalam , Civil Affairs (1970)
A. Ramasamy Mudaliar , Civil Affairs (1970)
B. Sivaraman , Civil Affairs (1971)
T. Swaminathan , Civil Affairs (1973)
MS Subbulakshmi , Art (1975)
T. Balasaraswati , Art (1977)
MS Swaminathan , Science and Technology (1989)
APJ Abdul Kalam , Science and Technology (1990)
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer , Art (1990)
V. Arunachalam , Literature and Education (1990)
Lakshmi Sahgal , Public Affairs (1988)
DK Pattammal , Art (1999)
R. Chidambaram , Science and Technology (1999)
Krishnaswami Kasturirangan , Science and Technology (2000)
RK Narayan , Literature and Education (2000)
CV Narasimhan , Civil Affairs (2001)
C. Rangarajan , Literature and Education (2002)
RK Laxman , Art (2005)

Param Vir Chakra

Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military honor.

Major Ramaswamy Parameshwaran (1946–1987), 1987 (posthumous) for IPKF operations in Sri Lanka

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is India's highest sporting honor.

Viswanathan Anand , Chess (1991–1992)
Dhanraj Pillay , Hockey (1999–2000)

Art, music and literature

PV Akilandam , Jnanpith Award , (1975)
Jayakanthan , Jnanpith Award, (2002)
Subbu Arumugam , Sangeet Natak Akdamy Award , (2005)
L. Athira Krishna , Guinness Book of Records as the youngest violinist

Industrial

India

Shiv Nadar , HCL and Forbes
Raja Annamalai Chettiar , industrialist and philanthropist, donated Annamalai University , Chidambaram , Tamil Nadu
RM Alagappa Chettiar (1909–1957), industrialist and philanthropist, founded Alagappa University , Karaikudi , Tamil Nadu
MA Chidambaram , industrialist
S. Ramadorai , Tata Consultancy Services
N. Mahalingam , Chef, Sakthi Group, Coimbatore
Kalanidhi Maran , media tycoon
Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar , industrialist
MAM Ramasamy , Industrialist and Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai University
Namakkal PG Periasamy , Founder and CEO PGP Groups
B. Muthuraman , Managing Director, Tata Steel
Dharmaveera K. Govindaswamy Naidu , industrialist and philanthropist
Venu Srinivasan , head of TVS Suzuki and Sundaram-Clayton
Mallika Srinivasan , CEO of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited
MV Subbiah , CEO of the Murugappa Group
R. Seshasayee , Managing Director, Ashok Leyland
TT Narasimhan , Managing Director, TTK Group

Other countries

Raj Rajaratnam , American hedge fund manager
Indra Nooyi , CEO of PepsiCo , USA
Lakshmi Narayanan , CEO and President of Cognizant Technology Solutions , USA
S. Dhanabalan , Chief, DBS Bank (Singapore)
JY Pillay , Chef, Singapore Exchange (stock market)
Marimutu Sinivasan , founder and head of Texmaco Group , Indonesia ,
Ananda Krishnan , CEO of Maxis Communications and MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems , Malaysia
Robert Chandran , Founder and CEO of Chemoil Corporation , USA
KB Chandrashekar , Founder and CEO of e4e Inc and Jamcracker, Inc , USA
Shoba Purushothaman , Co-Founder and CEO of The NewsMarket Inc , USA

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google LLC, USA

Scholars

Academics

Malcolm Adiseshiah (1910–1994), economist , former UNESCO MP and founder of MIDS ( Madras Institute of Development Studies )

VC Kulandaiswamy , educator and technician , former Vice Chancellor of Anna University , IGNOU and Tamil Virtual University

T. Kuthalingam Scientist and Technician, Former Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University

Mu. Varadharasan , Tamil scholar, Sahithya Academy Award winner and former Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University

Sivaraj Ramaseshan (1923–2003), scientist and former director of the IISc

M. Anandakrishnan , Chief, Madras Institute of Development Studies and former Vice Chancellor of Anna University

Arjun Appadurai , contemporary social theorist , educator and founder of the School of International Relations , JNU , New Delhi .

Swaminathan Sridharan , Faculty of the Kellogg School of Management

Jayanthi Sunder , Faculty of the Kellogg School of Management

Arvind Krishnamurthy , Faculty of the Kellogg School of Management

Subramaniam Ramanarayanan , Faculty of the Kellogg School of Management

M. Lakshmanan , Microbiologist , Former Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University and Former President of the Association of Microbiologes of India

Kalyani Mathivanan , professor at The Ethiraj College, Chennai.

Agriculture

MS Swaminathan , agricultural scientist and scientific father of the "Green Revolution" in India

botanist

Ganapathi Thanikaimoni (1938–1986),

Computer science

Madhu Sudan (* 1966), computer scientist , professor of computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and member of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Arogyaswami Paulraj {* 1944} Wireless Engineering , Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University . The pioneer of wireless smart antenna technology is considered the father of Indian military sonar technology

Finance and economy

C. Rangarajan , economist and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1992–1997)
CK Prahalad , management expert and professor at the University of Michigan Business School (1941-2010)
Marti Subrahmanyam , financial expert and professor at New York University (NYU) and Board of Directors of Infosys and ICICI Bank
Bala V. Balachandran , management expert and professor at the Kellogg School of Management
Ravi Jagannathan , economist and professor at the Kellogg School of Management
Lakshman Krishnamurthi , Marketing Expert and Professor at the Kellogg School of Management
Iyengar Iyengar , former Governor, Central Bank of India (1957–1962)
S. Jagannathan , former Governor, Central Bank of India (1970–1975) and Executive at the World Bank and IMF
M. Narasimham , Banker, Former Governor, Central Bank of India (1977) and Executive at the World Bank and IMF
S. Venkitaramanan , Former Governor, Central Bank of India (1990–1992)

Law

Karthy Govender , Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission and Professor of Law at the University of Natal

Navanethem Pillay , South African judge of Tamil descent, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from September 2008

mathematics

S. Ramanujan , mathematician
SS Pillai (1901–1950), mathematician , number theory
KG Ramanathan (1920–1992), mathematician , number theory
Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer (1918–2001), mathematician and Tamil human rights activist, Sri Lanka's Order of Australia laureate

medicine

VS Ramachandran , neuroscientist; Director Professor at UC San Diego
SS Ratnam , Singapore pioneer for in-vitro fertilization
Ganapathi Thanikaimoni , Palynologist , Fyson Prize Winner in Science
Sundaram Ramakrishnan , cancer researcher and professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School
Mohammed Rela , Transplant Surgeon, King's College Hospital
R. Venkataswami , plastic surgeon at Stanley Medical College
Venkataswami , founder of the Aravind Eye Hospital
Ravi Iyengar , professor and founder of the Iyengar Laboratory , Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mayilvahanan Natarajan , orthopedist

science and technology

CV Raman 1930 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar 1983 Nobel Laureate in Physics
K. Kasturirangan , former director of ISRO and current director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
R. Chidambaram , Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of India and former Head of the Atomic Energy Commission
SR Ranganathan , librarian
A. Sivathanu Pillai , military scientist and CEO of the Indo-Russian BrahMos Corporation , developer of a supersonic cruise missile
GN Ramachandran (1922-2001), biologist and physicist
Ranjan Roy Daniel (1923–2005), physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and former head of the Advisory Committee for Space Science at ISRO
V. Radhakrishnan (* 1929), space scientist and member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Mylswamy Annadurai (* 1958), project manager Chandrayaan-1
RV Perumal , Associate Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center
DG Naidu - former head of EMS and scientist
AE Muthunayagam , Space Researcher and Chief of the Board of Governors, IIT Chennai
VS Arunachalam , former DRDO military scientist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Ramanuja Vijayaraghavan (* 1931), physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

zoologist

TN Ananthakrishnan , entomologist and zoologist . former head of the Zoology Department and founding director of the Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai

Art and music

Tamil musicians

Muthuthandavar , musician
Marimuthu Pillai , musician
Arunachala Kavirayar , musician
Pushpavanam Kuppusamy and Anita Kuppusamy , folk artists and singers
VN Krishnan and N. Krishnan , professors, folk artists and singers
Paravai Muniamma , folk artist and singer
Satheesraj Srithirukumar better known as Kadhalviruz , singer , rapper , songwriter , DJ and music producer , Sri Lanka Tamile

German musicians

Majoe , German rapper of Tamil descent from Sri Lanka

Carnatic musicians

Film music

KV Mahadevan , musician, composer and award winner, National Film Award / Best Music 1968 and 1980
MS Viswanathan , musician and composer
VS Narasimhan , musician and composer
Ilayaraja , musician , composer and award winner , National Film Award / Best Music 1984, 1986 and 1989
AR Rahman , musician , composer and award winner , National Film Award / Best Music 1993, 1997, 2002 and 2003. He is a double Oscar , Golden Globe Award , British Academy Film Award and a double Grammy winner for the soundtrack of the film Slumdog Millionaire in 2009 .
Yuvan Shankar Raja , musician , singer and composer and son of Ilaiyaraaja

Classical dance

movie theater

Directors

AP Nagarajan
A. Bhimsingh
CV Sridhar
Bharathiraja , Prize Winner, National Film Award / Best Screenplay 2001
J. Mahendran
K. Balachander , Prize Winner, National Film Award / Best Screenplay 1982
Balu Mahendra , director, cameraman and award winner, National Film Award / Best Cinematography in 1978 and 1983
Mani Ratnam
Cheran
B. Lenin , Winner, National Film Award / Best Director 2002
Agaththian , Prize Winner, National Film Award / Best Director and National Film Award / Best Film in Tamil (1997)
M. Night Shyamalan , Hollywood film producer (half-Tamil: father Malayali and mother Tamil)
Bala
Dharani
Parthiban
Perarasu
RK Selvamani
Selvaraghavan
S. Shankar
Vasanth
Vicraman
SJ Suryah

actor

Actresses

Manorama
Vyjayantimala Bollywood actress
Hema Malini Bollywood actress
Rekha Bollywood actress
Lakshmi , National Film Award / Best Actress 1977
Shobha , National Film Award / Best Actress 1980
Suhasini Mani Ratnam , National Film Award / Best Actress 1986
Archana , National Film Award / Best Actress 1988
Ramya Krishnan
Raadhika
Padmapriya
Meena
Latha
PS Keerthana
Vasundhara Das
Vidya Balan

More entertainers

Aziz Ansari

Sport and play

Carrom

A. Maria Irudayam , Arjuna Award Winner for Carrom (1996)
R. Arokiaraj
K. Radhakrishnan
B. Radhakrishnan
E. Mahimairaj
M. Natraj
A. Ponnarasi
G. Revathi

chess

Viswanathan Anand , world chess champion 2007-2013, first Indian chess grandmaster
Manuel Aaron , first Indian international champion
Murugan Thiruchelvam , chess player for Great Britain
K. Sasikiran , Grand Master and Arjuna Award Winner Chess (2002)
S. Vijayalakshmi , six-time Indian champion, grandmaster and Arjuna Award winner chess (2000)
S. Meenakshi , Grand Master , sister of S. Vijayalakshmi
Aarthie Ramaswamy , Grandmaster , World Chess Champion Juniors (U18)
Magesh Panchanathan , Grand Master
Ramachandran Ramesh , Grand Master
Chakkravarthy Deepan , Grand Master and winner of the Asian Junior Championship in Colombo in 2002
GB Prakash , International Master
P. Konguvel , International Master
Lanka Ravi , International Master and FIDE Senior Trainer
S. Arun Prasad , International Master
S. Kidambi , International Master
K. Murugan , International Master
TS Ravi , international champion
V. Saravanan , International Master
TN Parameswaran , International Master
R. Balasubramanian , International Master
S. Poobesh Anand , International Master in Chess
MR Venkatesh , International Master in Chess
N. Sudhakar Babu , International Master in Chess

Cricket

India

MJ Gopalan (1909-2003), represented India in both hockey and cricket
CR Rangachari (1916-1993), Bowler
CD Gopinath (* 1930),
S. Venkataraghavan (* 1945), also referee
K. Srikkanth (* 1959),
TA Sekhar (* 1956),
L. Sivaramakrishnan (* 1965),
VB Chandrasekhar , cricket
Bharat Arun (* 1962), cricket
Murali Kartik (* 1976), cricket
Sadagoppan Ramesh (* 1975), cricket
Lakshmipathy Balaji (* 1981),
Dinesh Karthik (* 1985),

Other countries

Muttiah Muralitharan (* 1972), Sri Lanka
Vinodhan John (* 1982), Sri Lanka
KT Francis ,
A. Varadarajan , Batsman ,
Sanjayan Thuraisingam (* 1969),
Easwaran Sinnathamby (* 1973),
Kantharatnam Shanthikumar (* 1954),
Jevaraj Eebert , 1988-1994
Mahendra Nagamootoo ,

Soccer

hockey

Vasudevan Baskaran , captain
Dhanraj Pillay (* 1968), former hockey captain, Arjuna Award winner (1995) and winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1999–2000)
Kuhan Shanmuganathan , captain, Malaysian hockey team
Mohamad Riaz , Olympian and Arjuna Award Winner (1998)
Adam Sinclair ,

Kabaddi

Subbiah Rajarathinam , captain of the Indian Kabaddi

Racing car driver

Narain Karthikeyan ,
Karun Chandhok ,
S. Karivardhan , National Champion
N. Leelakrishnan , seven-time winner
Naren Kumar , four-time winner
J. Anand , Coimbatore 3 awardees
R. Gopinath , Coimbatore F3 National Champion and founder of SpitFire Motorsports
B. Vijay Kumar , Coimbatore Fiat Champion and LG Sport Founder
GR Karthikeyan , Coimbatore seven-time South Indian Rally award winner and father of Narain Karthikeyan
Akbar Ebrahim , Chennai , three-time awardee

tennis

Vijay Amritraj , international tennis winner and actor
Anand Amritraj , international tennis player
Ashok Amritraj , international tennis player
Prakash Amritraj , international tennis player
Mahesh Bhupathi , international tennis player
Ramanathan Krishnan , international tennis player
Ramesh Krishnan , international tennis player
Nirupama Vaidyanathan , international tennis player
Jeevan Nedunchezhian

Personalities of culture

Thirumuruga Kirupananda Variyar , religious scholar
Rukmini Devi Arundale , Bharatanatyam dancer
Alarmel Valli , Bharatanatyam dancer
Balasaraswati , Bharatanatyam dancers
Chitra Visweswaran , Bharatanatyam dancer
Padma Subramanyam , Bharatanatyam dancer
Medha Hari , Bharatanatyam dancer
Pithukuli Murugadas , spiritual musician
KB Sundarambal , actress and singer
Sirkali Govindarajan , Carnatic musician
Sirkali G. Siva Chidambaram , singer

Tamil speaking personalities

Arumuka Navalar (1822–1879), pioneer of Tamil prose
Maraimalai Adigal , scholar and activist
Xavier Thaninayagam Adigalar (1913–1980), from Jaffna , Sri Lanka , founding member of the International Association for Tamil Research
Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar , scholar , researcher and poet

Religious personalities

Nayanmar , there are 63 Nayanmars, Saivist persons
Alvar , there are 12 Alwars, persons of Vaishnavism
Ramalinga Swamigal (1823–1873), better known as Vallalar
Ramanuja (1017–1137), philosopher One of the most famous saints of Vaishnavism
Appayya Dikshidar (1520–1593), philosopher , student of the Advaita school of Indian philosophy
Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950)
Yogaswami (1872–1964), spiritual leader from Jaffna , Sri Lanka
Sivananda (1887–1963), representative of Yoga and Vedanta
Kundrakudi Adigalar , Kundrakudi Aadheenam
Ponnambala Adigalar , Kundrakudi Aadheenam
Santhalinga Ramasamy Adigalar , priest Perur Aadheenam
Sivaprakasa Swamigal , priest of Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam
Gurugnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya , priest of Madurai Aadheenam
Duraisamy Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy (1924–2014), High Priest of S Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri, Vatican
Dayananda Saraswati , founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Nithyananda (* 1978), founder of the Nithyananda Foundation

Classic writers

Tiruvalluvar , saint , poet and author of the Tirukkural
Tholkaapiyar , author of Tholkaapiam , one of the first Tamil grammar books
Illango Adigal , saint , poet and author of the Silappadigaram
Srivilliputhurar , author of the Tamil Mahabharatham
Seethalai Saathanar , author of the Manimegalai
Kambar , author of the Kambaramayanam
Auvaiyar , saint and author of the Aathichoodi
Tirutakakatevar , author of the Jivaka Chintamani
Eelattu Poothanthevanar , classical Tamil poet from ancient Sri Lanka of the Sangam period

Religious authors

Johnson Gnanabaranam in 1995.

Hindu

Nakkeerar author of the Thirumurugattupadai
Thirumular , author of the Thirumandhiram
Arunagirinathar , author of the Thiruppugazh
Sekkizhar , author of the Periapuranam
Mannikkavasagar , author of the Thiruvasagam and one of the Nayanmars
Nammalvar , author of the Tiruvaymoli and one of the Alvars
Tirumalisai , author of the Tiruchanda Virutham and one of the Alvars
Andal , author of Tiruppavai and one of the Alvars
V. Akilesapillai , scholar , poet and author of Thirukonasala Vaipavam from Sri Lanka

Christian

Islamic

Umaruppulavar (1605–1703), author of the Sirappuranam , Islamic- spiritual work on the life of Mohammed
Mohammad Ibrahim , author of the Muhaidin Puranam , Islamic spiritual literature

Modern writers

India

Subramaniya Bharati (1882–1921), nationalist poet
Bharathidasan (1891–1964), Tamil poet and rationalist
Pudhumaipithan (1906-1948), Tamil science fiction - writers
Karmegha Konar (1889–1957), Tamil poet
Akilan , novelist
Thi. Janakiraman , novelist
Laa. Sa. Ramamirutham , novelist
Kalki (1899–1954), freedom fighter , novelist and journalist
Jayakanthan (1934–2015), writer and novelist
Kannadasan (1927–1981), better known as Kavi Arasu poet , recipient of the National Film Award / Best Lyrics 1969
Vairamuthu (* 1953), poet , songwriter and winner of the National Film Award / Best Lyrics 1986, 1993, 1995, 2000 and 2003
Indira Soundarajan , novelist and short story writer
Ashoka Mitran (* 1931), novelist and short story writer
RK Narayan (1906–2001), English-speaking novelist and essayist
Koththamangalam Subbu , poet
Sandilyan , novelist
Subrabharathimanian , short story writer, essayist
Pa. Vijay , songwriter and winner of the National Film Award / Best Lyrics 2005
Vaali , songwriter
Sujatha (1935-2008), Tamil screenwriter

Other countries

Philip Jeyaratnam , Singapore , writer
Gopal Baratham (1935–2002), Singapore writer and leading neurosurgeon
Edwin Thumboo (* 1933), Singapore , writer
S. Ponnudurai , novelist from Sri Lanka

Further

Shankaracharya from Kanchi, spiritual leader
Varadharajan Mudaliar , known as Vardha Bhai;
KM Veerappan , bandit
Kanishka Sadasivam , political scientist, professor (Carlton, Salem), author,

Not of parentage, but Tamil residence.

Thanthai Periyar , Kannada , rationalist
Rajinikanth one of the most famous actors in Tamil film
Annamalai Reddiyar , Telugu Tamil poet
Constanzio Beschi (1680–1747), Italian Catholic priest better known as Viramamunivar , wrote Tembavani , Christian literature on the life of Jesus
Cota Ramaswami (1896–), hockey and tennis