This is a list of notable people from North Malabar, a historical and cultural area including the former French exclaves of Pondicherry. North Malabar is now administratively at the northern end of Kerala, India.
Pazhassi Raja (1753–1805), freedom fighter and prince regent of Kottayam princely state Cherusseri Namboothiri (c. 1375–c. 1475), poet Aromal Chekavar, legendary hero and warrior from the 12th century Thacholi Othenan, legendary hero from the 1600s Unniyarcha, 12th century warrior Chandu Chekavar, 12th century warrior A. K. Gopalan (1904–1977), politician, communist leader, MP K. Kelappan (1889–1971), social reformer and journalist E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004), politician, communist leader and Chief Minister of Kerala K. P. R. Gopalan (1906–1997), politician, Naxalite communist leader and MPA M. V. Raghavan (1933–2014), politician, communist leader and MPA Sankaran Moopan, 18th century chief commander of Pazhassi Raja Karayi Krishnan Gurukkal, 19th century scholar Dewan E.K Krishnan (1841–1907) 19th century deputy collector Janaki Ammal (1897–1984), cytogenetics and phytogeography Meenakshi Amma, Kalaripayattu guru and Padma Shri Choorayi Kanaran (1812–1876), first deputy collector of India, 19th century Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan (1863–1948), social reformer Ayyathan Janaki Ammal (1881–1945), first female doctor in Kerala I. K. Kumaran (1903–1999), 20th century Mahe freedom fighter Vagbhatananda (1885–1939), Hindu social reformer Keeleri Kunhikannan (1858–1939), martial arts trainer and circus owner S. K. Pottekkatt (1913–1982), Malayalam writer Mithavaadi Krishnan, social reformer Potheri Kunjambu Vakil (1857–1919), social reformer, writer, royal family lawyer Muliyil Krishnan (1845–1901), writer Ponnapuramkottayil Kelu Moopan, 17th century warrior K. Karunakaran (1918–2010), politician, congress leader and Chief Minister of Kerala E. Ahmed (1938–2017), politician, Muslim League leader and Central Cabinet Minister Moorkoth Kumaran (1874–1941), teacher and short story writer Moorkoth Ramunni (1915–2009), pilot and bureaucrat Moorkoth Kunhappa (1905–1993), journalist, editor, novelist M. N. Nambiar (1919–2008), film actor and spiritual leader Verghese Kurien (1921–2012), social entrepreneur and founder of Amul Sreenivasan (1950-2025), film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer Kannur Rajan (1949–1995), music composer Kuroolli Chekon, 20th century Thiyya warrior Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri (born 1950), lyricist, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, and performer of carnatic music Gireesh Puthenchery (1961–2010), lyricist and screenwriter Vineeth (born 1969), film actor and classical dancer K. Raghavan (1913–2013), music composer A. T. Ummer (1933–2001), music composer Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar (1861–1914), journalist, writer, landowner Vijay K. Nambiar (born 1943), diplomat O. M. Nambiar (1932–2021), athletics coach and winner of the Dronacharya award Lt. General Satish Nambiar (born 1936), general and commander of the UNPROFOR force in the former Yugoslavia 1992–93 Pinarayi Vijayan (born 1944), politician, communist leader, MPA, Chief Minister of Keralam Kalingalmadom Rarichan Moopan, social leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (1953–2022), politician, communist leader, MPA Sukumar Azhikode (1926–2012), writer philosopher M. Night Shyamalan (born 1970), film director, screenwriter, and producer M. Mukundan (born 1942), writer, social activist Kavya Madhavan (born 1984), film actress Samvrutha Sunil (born 1986), film actress Captain C. P. Krishnan Nair (1922–2014), businessman, hotelier Anaswara Rajan (born 2002), film actress Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, renowned Chenda artist
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