தமிழ்

Sourashtrians

Our people.

Voices, artists, scholars and leaders from our community.

Honoured by India Post

On the nation's stamps.

Music

  • T. M. Soundararajan

    1922-2013

    The voice of Tamil cinema. Over 10,000 songs across 3,000 films, from devotional to Carnatic.

    Wikipedia

  • Venkataramana Bhagavathar

    1781-1874

    A direct disciple of Saint Thyagaraja who composed kritis in Sanskrit, Telugu and Sourashtra.

    Wikipedia

  • A. L. Raghavan

    1933-2020

    Playback singer behind many beloved Tamil film songs.

    Wikipedia

  • S. C. Krishnan

    1929-1983

    Actor and playback singer of Tamil drama and film.

    Wikipedia

Cinema

  • M. S. Sundari Bai

    1923-2006

    Madurai Saurashtra Sundari Bai. Actress, singer and dancer of Tamil cinema from the 1940s to the 1970s.

    Wikipedia

  • M. N. Rajam

    Actress of Ratha Kanneer, Nadodi Mannan, Pasamalar and Arangetram.

    Wikipedia

  • P. V. Narasimha Bharathi

    1924-1978

    Actor, remembered for Ponmudi, directed by Ellis R. Dungan.

    Wikipedia

  • Kaka Radhakrishnan

    c. 1925-2012

    Seven decades in Tamil film. He introduced his childhood friend Sivaji Ganesan to cinema.

    Wikipedia

  • Vennira Aadai Nirmala

    Lead actress of the 1960s and 70s in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films.

    Wikipedia

  • T. K. Ramachandran

    Actor and producer, a celebrated villain and character actor of the 1950s.

    Wikipedia

  • Sumathi

    Actress from Madurai who began her career at the age of two.

    Wikipedia

  • Seetha

    Actress and producer across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films.

    Wikipedia

  • Master Prabhakar

    Actor in Tamil and Hindi cinema and around 60 Doordarshan programmes.

    Wikipedia

  • Jagadeesh Kanna

    Stage actor, playwright, author and film director.

    Wikipedia

Literature

  • Sankhu Ram

    1907-1976

    Poet who translated the Tirukkural into Sourashtra.

    Wikipedia

  • M. V. Venkatram

    1920-2000

    Writer and translator. Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Kathukal.

    Wikipedia

Public life

  • N. M. R. Subbaraman

    1905-1983

    Freedom fighter and Member of Parliament for Madurai.

    Wikipedia

  • S. R. Eradha

    1934-2021

    Former Minister and Leader of the Opposition (AIADMK).

  • S. K. Balakrishnan

    1935-2002

    Mayor of Madurai, 1980-1982.

    Wikipedia

  • A. G. Subburaman

    1930-1986

    Member of Parliament for Madurai.

    Wikipedia

  • A. G. S. Ram Babu

    1962-2022

    Former Member of Parliament.

    Wikipedia

Science & scholarship

  • T. S. Chandrasekar

    Gastroenterologist, Padma Shri, founder of Medindia Hospitals, Chennai.

    Wikipedia

  • K. Amarnath Ramakrishna

    Archaeologist who led the Keeladi excavations of a Sangam-era settlement.

    Wikipedia

Someone missing?

This list follows the notable people recorded on Wikipedia. If you know a Sourashtrian who belongs here, or have a photo you own and are happy to share, write to tirukonda@palkar.org.

Image credits