List of Iyers

Main article: Iyer

Iyers are Hindu Brahmins of Tamil or Telugu origin who are Smarthas or followers of the Smritis.^[1] They mostly believe in the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Sankara.^[2][3][4]

Some of the early members of the community to gain prominence were sages and religious scholars like Agatthiar, Tholkappiyar, Parimelazhagar and Naccinarkiniyar.^{[5] [6]}Prior to the 1800s, almost all prominent members of this community hailed from religious or literary spheres.^[7] Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswamy Dīkshitar, who constitute the "Trinity of Carnatic music" were probably the first verified historical personages from the community, as the accounts or biographies of those who lived earlier appear semi-legendary in character.^[8][9][10] During the British Raj, Iyers and Iyengars dominated the services by their predominance in the legal and administrative professions.^[11][12] Most of the Dewans of the princely state of Travancore during the 19th century were Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars).^[13] Some of the prominent individuals of the period as Seshayya Sastri, Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer, Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, Shungrasoobyer, Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, Sir S. Subramania Iyer and C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar all had a legal background.^[11] At the same time, they were also intimately associated with the Indian National Congress and the Indian independence movement. The most prominent freedom fighter from the community was Subrahmanya Bharati. Following independence, Iyers have diversified into a number of fields dominating the domain of classical arts in particular.

Saints, religious and spiritual leaders

• Abirami Pattar (c. 18th century AD), Tamil saint and poet. Author of Abirami Anthathi and Hindu religious works in Tamil.
• Appayya Dikshitar (1520-1593),Saivite saint and religious scholar who re-established Advaita philosophy's predominance in the South. He was especially patronised by the rulers of Vellore and Madurai, Chinnabomma Nayak and Tirumalai Nayak, respectively.
• Bharati Krishna Theerthaji (1884-1960), the Shankaracharya of Puri. He also popularized Vedic mathematics.
• Campantar (c. 7th century AD), One of the 63 Nayanmars. One of the authors of Tirumurai.
• Chandeshvara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
• Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi (1894-1994), former pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt.
• Cuntarar (c. 8th century AD), One of the Nayanmars and author of the Periya Puranam.
• Sri Jayendra Saraswathi (b. 1935), Current pontiff of the Kanchi mutt.
• Manikkavacakar (c. 9th century AD), One of the Nayanmars. Author of Tiruvacakam
• Nambiyandar Nambi (c. 11th century AD), Saivite ascetic and poet. One of the authors of the Tirumurai.
• Siva Sri Paskarakurukkal, Sri Lankan Tamil priest resident in Germany, responsible for the building of the second biggest Hindu temple of Europe, the Sri Kamatchi Ampal Temple.
• Ramana Maharishi (1879-1950), saint and spiritual leader of Mount Arunachala.
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (b 1956), spiritual leader, yogi and founder of 'Art of Living'.
• Sheshadri Swamigal (1870-1929), Siddha or religious mendicant who lived in the forests of Arunachala.
• Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), yogi who lived in Rishikesh, in the foothills of Himalayas. He popularized Hatha Yoga in North America

Scientists and academics

• L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer (1861-1937), Indian anthropologist.
• Sir C. V. Raman (1888-1970), Indian physicist. Awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the dispersion of light.
• Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910-1995), American physicist of Indian origin. Awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics. Nephew of Sir C. V. Raman.
• Rajagopala Chidambaram (b. 1936), Indian nuclear scientist. Former director of BARC, now chief scientific advisor to the Prime minister of India.
• Iravatham Mahadevan (b. 1930), Indian civil servant, historian, archaeologist and epigraphist.
• Palamadai S. Lokanathan, Indian economist.
• K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (1892-1975), Indian historian and Dravidologist.
• G. N. Ramachandran (1922-2001), American biochemist of Indian origin.
• Rappal Sangameswaraier Krishnan (1911-1999), physicist
• V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1896-1953), Indian historian and Dravidologist.
• Vilayanur Ramachandran (b. 1951), neuroscientist.
• Raghavan Iyer (1930-1995), political philosopher and Hindu scholar of Indian origin.
• Kollagunta Gopalaiyer Ramanathan (1920-1992), Indian mathematician.
• S. Ramaseshan (1923-2003), Indian physicist and biographer known for his work on crystallography. Former director of Indian Institute of Science. Nephew of Sir C. V. Raman and cousin of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
• S. R. Ranganathan (1892-1972), library scientist.
• C. V. Runganada Sastri (1819-1881), Indian interpreter, civil servant and polyglot who was known for his mastery over Indian and foreign languages. Maternal great-grandfather of C. R. Pattabhiraman.
• K. V. Subrahmanya Aiyar (1875-1969), Indian epigraphist. First to decipher cave inscriptions of Tamil Nadu.
• U. V. Swaminatha Iyer (1855-1942), Tamil scholar, linguist, Dravidologist and music composer. Affectionately called Tamil thatha.
• M. S. Swaminathan (b. 1925), Indian agricultural researcher.
• Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (b. 1952), American scientist of Indian origin. Awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the structure and function of ribosomes.
• V. Venkayya (1864-1912), Indian epigraphist. Chief Epigraphist to the Government of India 1908-12. Pioneer in the study of Pallava-era inscriptions.
• Visvanatha Sastriyar (1756-1845), Sri Lankan Tamil poet and astronomer. He was described by Sir Emerson Tennent as "the most celebrated astronomer in Ceylon".

Journalists and writers

• V. Balakumaran (b. 1946), Tamil writer, playwright and novelist
• C. S. Chellappa (1912-1998), Tamil writer, critic and novelist.
• Devan (1913-1957), Tamil short-story writer, creator of fictitious character Thuppariyum Sambu.
• Thi.Janakiraman (1921-1983), Tamil novelist.
• T. P. Kailasam (1884-1946), Kannada writer and considered as the "Father of modern Kannada Theater"
• Professor K. V. Krishna Iyer (1894-1986), Indian historian. Author of standard reference books on Kerala History.
• "Kalki" B. Krishnamurthy (1899-1954), Tamil journalist, novelist, Indian independence activist and founder of Tamil weekly "Kalki".
• Kothamangalam Subbu, Tamil film playwright and director.
• C. S. Lakshmi (b. 1944), Tamil writer.
• R. K. Laxman (b. 1924), Indian cartoonist and humorist. R. K. Laxman is the younger brother of R. K. Narayan
• Mowni (real name S. Mani Iyer) (1907-1985), short story writer
• Naccinarkiniyar (c. 10th century AD), Tamil writer who wrote a commentary on the Tholkappiyam.
• R. K. Narayan (1906-2001), Indian writer.
• G. A. Natesan (1873-1948), Indian journalist and publisher. Founder of publishing company G. A. Natesan & Co. and editor of The Indian Review.
• Ulloor Parameswara Iyer (1877-1959), Malayalam poet. Regarded as one of the important poets in the Malayalam language.
• Parimelazhagar (c. 13th century AD), Tamil poet and commentarian. Acclaimed for his commentary on the Thirukkural which is considered to be the best of the classical commentaries.
• Parithimar Kalaignar (1870-1903), Tamil writer and scholar who was the first to campaign for the recognition of Tamil as classical language.
• Pico Iyer (b. 1957), Indian writer.
• K. P. Rajagopalan (1902-1944), Tamil writer, novelist and translator.
• B. R. Rajam Iyer (1872-1898), Tamil lawyer and novelist. Author of Kamalambal Charitram (1893), the second modern Tamil novel.
• Ramachandra Guha (b. 1958), Indian political historian, sports historian and columnist.
• Malayattoor Ramakrishnan (1927-1997), Malayalam novelist
• Sivasankari (b. 1943), Tamil novelist and social activist.
• V. S. Srinivasa Sastri (1869-1946), Indian freedom fighter, orator, teacher and politician. Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Was called the "Silver Tongued Orator of the British Empire" by Winston Churchill
• Subbudu (1917-2007), music and dance critic. Real name P. V. Subramaniam.
• V. D. Trivadi (1927-1985), Humorist and journalist known for his middles in The Times of India. Was known as Art Buchwald or Russell Baker of India.
• Kadiyalur Uruttirangannanar (2nd ceutnry AD), Tamil poet and bard. Author of Pattinappalai.

Advocates and social activists

• L. A. Govindaraghava Aiyar (1867-1935), Indian lawyer, theosophist and politician
• Sir Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar (1883-1953) Indian lawyer and member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which framed the Constitution of India.
• K. S. Parameswara Iyer (1908-1994), Indian lawyer. Served as Advocate general and was president of the Law association.
• V. R. Krishna Iyer (b. 1915), Indian judicial expert and Justice, Supreme Court of India. Minister in first Kerala ministry.
• V. Krishnaswamy Iyer (1863-1911), Indian lawyer who took on Arbuthnot & Co when the bank crashed in 1906. He later became one of the founders of Indian Bank and campaigned for India's freedom.
• Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer (1832-1895), Indian lawyer. First Indian to be appointed to the bench of the High Court of Madras.
• K. Natesa Iyer, Sri Lankan journalist, political activist and leader of the Indian Tamil community of Sri Lanka.
• Patanjali Sastri, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.
• Sir S. Ramachandra Iyer, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court (1961-64).
• C. S. Ranga Iyer (1895-1963), Indian journalist, politician and Indian independence activist. Proposed the Untouchability Abolition Bill in the Imperial Legislative Council (India) (now Lok Sabha) in 1932.
• Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer (1864-1946), Indian lawyer. Advocate General of Madras Presidency from 1907 to 1911.
• P. R. Sundaram Iyer (1862-1913), Indian lawyer and founder of Madras Law Journal. Grandfather of cinematographer P. C. Sreeram.
• M. Subbaraya Iyer (1885-1963), Indian lawyer and educationist.
• Pennathur Subramania Iyer (1860-1901), Indian lawyer, politician and philanthropist. Founder of P. S. Charities.
• Sir S. Subramania Iyer (1842-1924), Second Indian Judge of the High Court of Madras and one of the founders of the Home Rule movement in South India.
• A. Vaidyanatha Iyer (1890-1955), Indian activist. Participated in the Indian independence movement and organized the temple entry movement in the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. President of the Tamil Nadu Harijan Seva Sangh.
• Valambal, Indian social activist. Considered to be responsible for the growth of the Communist Party of India in the Tanjre region in the 1950s.
• T. R. Venkatarama Sastri (1874-1953), Indian lawyer and politician. Advocate General of Madras Presidency (1924-28)

Indian Independence Movement

• S. A. Ayer, Indian freedom fighter. Minister of publicity and propaganda in the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind government of Nethaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Kalki Sadasivam (1902-1997), Freedom fighter and husband of famous singer M.S. Subbulakshmi.
• Sathyamurthy (1887-1943), Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Congress party in the erstwhile Madras presidency.
• G. Subramania Iyer (1855-1916), Freedom fighter and founder of "The Hindu" English newspaper.
• Subramaniya Siva (1884-1925), Freedom fighter and close associate of Bharathi and V.V.S.Iyer
• Subramanya Bharathy (1882-1921), Indian freedom fighter, Tamil poet and social reformer. Often regarded as the national poet of Tamil Nadu.
• S. A. Swaminatha Iyer (1849-1899), Indian lawyer and freedom-fighter.
• Vanchinathan (1886-1911), Indian independence activist who killed General Ash and committed suicide at Maniyachi.
• V. V. S. Aiyar (1881-1925) Tamil scholar and freedom fighter.

Sportspersons

• K. N. Ananthapadmanabhan (b. 1968), Indian cricketer and all-rounder. Member of the Kerala state cricket team in the Indian domestic Ranji Trophy tournament.
• Subramaniam Badrinath (b.1980), Indian cricketer. Captain of Tamil Nadu cricket team and a player in Indian Premier League representing Chennai Super Kings
• Ravichandran Ashwin (b. 1986) Indian cricketer and a player in Indian Premier League representing Chennai Super Kings
• Nirupama Vaidyanathan (b. 1977), Indian tennis player. First Indian woman to play a round in Grand Slam.
• Ramanathan Krishnan (b. 1937), Indian tennis player of the 1950s and 60's.
• Ramesh Krishnan (b. 1961), Indian tennis player and coach.
• Vishwanathan Anand (b. 1969),Indian chess player. First Indian to be ranked number one in international chess.
• Venkateswara Iyer Neelakantan (b.1941), former Kerala state cricket team player.

Artists and musicians

• Alathur Srinivasa Iyer (1912-1980) and Sivasubramania Iyer (1916-1964), Carnatic vocalists.
• Anuradha Sriram, Tamil playback Singer.
• Sundaram Balachander (1927-1990) veena exponent.
• T. S. Balakrishna Sastrigal (1919-2003), noted harikatha exponent.
• S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (b. 1946) Indian playback singer. Holds the Guinness Record for maximum number of songs recorded as a playback singer.
• G. N. Balasubramaniam (1910-1965), singer of Carnatic music
• Bharathwaj, Tamil music director.
• Bombay Jayashri, Tamil playback and Carnatic classical singer
• Chembai Vaidyanatha Iyer (1895-1973), Carnatic music singer
• Ganesh and Kumaresh, Violinists of international fame.
• Gayatri Iyer, Indian British singer.
• Gopalakrishna Bharathi (1811-1896), Carnatic music composer.
• M. S. Gopalakrishnan (b. 1931), violinist.
• Guruvayur Dorai (b. 1935), mridangist.
• Hamsika Iyer (b. 1972), Hindi, Marathi and Tamil playback singer
• Hariharan (b. 1955) Hindi and Tamil playback singer.
• Karaikudi Mani (b. 1945), percussionist and mridangist
• Kavi Kunjara Bharati (1810-1896), Composer of Carnatic music. Late contemporary of the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music"
• Kavita Krishnamurthy, Hindi playback singer
• Koteeswara Iyer(1870-1936), composer of Carnatic music
• Krish, Tamil playback singer.
• E. Krishna Iyer (1897-1968), Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter, classical artist and activist who fought for the revival of Bharatanatyam.
• G. J. R. Krishnan (b. 1960), Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. son of Lalgudi Jayaraman.
• T. N. Krishnan (b. 1928), violinist.
• Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (1935-2008), violinist.
• Lalgudi Jayaraman (b. 1930) - Carnatic Music composer and violinist.
• Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (b. 1966), Violinist and composer. Daughter of Lalgudi Jayaraman
• Madurai Mani Iyer (1912-1968), singer of Carnatic music
• Madurai Pushpavanam Iyer, vocalist
• Mahalaxmi Iyer, Prominent Hindi and Tamil playback Singer
• T. R. Mahalingam (1926-1986), flautist.
• Maharajapuram Santhanam (1922-1991), Carnatic music composer and violinist.
• Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer (1896-1970), Singer of Carnatic music. Father of Maharajapuram Santhanam.
• Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer(1844-1893), Carnatic music composer.
• Musiri Subramania Iyer(1899-1975), Carnatic music singer and film actor; acted in the 1938 Tamil movie Tukaram
• Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835), Composer. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Thyagarajar and Shyama Shastri.
• K. V. Narayanaswamy (1923-2002), Singer of Carnatic music.
• Naresh Iyer, Male Playback Singer in Bollywood and Kollywood
• Nithyashree Mahadevan (b. 1973), carnatic music singer. Granddaughter of singer D. K. Pattammal.
• Padma Subramanyam (b. 1943), Bharathanatyam dancer.
• Palakkad Mani Iyer (1912-1981), Musician and Mridangist
• Palghat R. Raghu (b. 1925), Musician and mridangist
• Papanasam Sivan (1890-1973), Carnatic music composer and singer.
• D. K. Pattammal (1919-2009), Singer of Carnatic music.
• S. Rajam (1919-2010), Tamil actor and singer
• N. S. Ramachandran, Carnatic music composer.
• T. K. Ramamoorthy, violinist and music director. Formed the Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy duo of Tamil cinema.
• M. D. Ramanathan (1923-1984), Carnatic composer and vocalist
• Dr. N. Ramani (b. 1934), flautist
• Rukmini Devi Arundale(1904-1986), danseuse and artist. Popularized Bharatanatyam. Founder of Kalakshetra
• Sairam Iyer, Indian playback singer
• Trichy Sankaran (b. 1942), mridangist
• T. V. Sankaranarayanan (b. 1945), Singer of carnatic music.
• V. Selvaganesh (b. 1966), Indian percussionist and carnatic musician. Son of T. H. Vinayakram.
• Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (1907-2003), singer of Carnatic music
• Shankar Mahadevan, Music Director
• Shriram Iyer
• Shyama Shastri, Composer. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Thyagarajar.
• Sikkil Kunjumani (b. 1930) and Sikkil Neela (b. 1940), Carnatic vocalists.
• R. K. Srikanthan (b.1920), Singer of carnatic music.
• Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845-1902), composer of Carnatic music.
• L. Subramaniam (b. 1947), Violinist of International fame.
• Thiagaraja (1767-1847), Composer of Carnatic music. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri.
• Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman (b. 1935), Carnatic musician and mridangist
• Usha Uthup (b. 1947), Indian pop singer and female playback singer in Bollywood.
• Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar (1803-1862), Carnatic musician and student of Thiagaraja.
• Vijay Iyer, Jazz musician.
• T. H. Vinayakram (b. 1932), ghatam artist.

Entertainers

• Anuja Iyer, Tamil film actress.
• Arvind Swamy (b. 1967) Tamil and Hindi actor and entrepreneur.
• K. Balachander (b.1930) Tamil film director.
• "Cho" Ramaswamy (b.1930) Tamil actor, playwright, lawyer, journalist and political analyst
• G. V. Iyer (1916-2003), Director-Producer of Sanskrit movies like Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Bhagawad Gita.
• Jaishankar (1940-2000), Tamil film actor
• Jayaram (b. 1964) Tamil and Malayalam film actor
• Kalpana Iyer (b.1955), Miss India and Hindi and Tamil actress.
• Kanika Subramaniam (b. 1982), Tamil actress and dubbing artist.
• S. G. Kittappa (1906-1933), Tamil stage actor and classical singer. Husband of singer K. B. Sundarambal.
• K. V. Mahadevan, Tamil music Director.
• T. R. Mahalingam (b.1923), Tamil actor, singer,director in the 1950s-1960s.
• Mani Ratnam (b. 1956) Indian film director.
• R. S. Manohar (1925-2006), Tamil film actor
• Mohini, Tamil and Malayalam film actress.
• Padmapriya Janakiraman, Tamil film actress.
• Poornam Vishwanathan (1920-2008), Tamil stage and film actor.
• Poornima Jayaram, Tamil film actress. Wife of actor Bhagyaraj
• Priyamani (b.1984), Tamil Actress
• H. Ramakrishnan, Indian journalist and Tamil television personality
• Ramya Krishnan (b. 1964), Tamil, Telugu and Hindi actress and TV Hostess
• Roopa Iyer (b.1978), Indian model and classical artist and Kannada film actress and director.
• S. Ve. Shekher Tamil comedian and AIADMK MLA from Mylapore constituency
• Siddharth Narayan (b.1979), Tamil, Telugu and Hindi actor
• Saranya Mohan (b.1989), South Indian film actress
• Soundarya (1971-2004), South Indian film actress.
• P. C. Sreeram, Tamil film cinematographer and director
• K. Subramaniam (1904-1971), Tamil film director.
• Suchitra Krishnamurthy, Hindi actress and former wife of Shekhar Kapur
• Suganya, Tamil film and teleserial actress.
• M. S. Thripunithura (1942-2006), Malayalam film actor
• Trisha Krishnan (b. 1983), Tamil and Telugu film actress.
• S. S. Vasan (1903-1969), Tamil and Hindi film director and producer. Known as the Cecil DeMille of India.
• N. C. Vasanthakokilam (1919-1951), Carnatic music singer and Tamil film actress.
• Venniradai Moorthy, Tamil film comedian.
• Venu Arvind, Tamil dubbing artiste, television and film actor.
• Vidya Balan (b.1978), Hindi Actress.
• Visu (b. 1945), Tamil writer, director, stage, film and television actor and talk show host.

Monarchs and military commanders

• There is altleast one prominent theory which claims that the Pallavas might be of Brahmanaical origins. See: Origin of Pallava.
• Krishnan Raman Brahmarayar (c. 11th century AD), Commander-in-chief of the Chola army under Rajendra Chola. He was given the title Mummadi Brahmarayar Niyomanam.
• Ramaiyan (c. 17th century AD), Army general in the service of Thirumalai Nayak. Led the Madurai Nayak troops in the 1639 war against the Sethupathi of Ramnad. Subject of the ballad Ramayyan Ammanai.

Politicians and administrators

• Balanadarajah Iyer (1957-2004), Media secretary for the Eelam People's Democratic Party. Assassinated allegedly by LTTE gunmen in 2004.
• Easwara Iyer, Indian lawyer and politician. Member of Lok Sabha for Trivandrum from 1957 to 1962.
• L. Ganesan (b. 1945), President of Tamil Nadu state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party.
• K. R. Guruswami Iyer, Indian politician. Member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1905 to 1909.
• Jana Krishnamurthi (1928-2007), Ex-President of the BJP & Former Union Law Minister.
• Janaki Ramachandran (1923-1996), Wife of M.G.Ramachandran and the first woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
• K. Kalyanasundaramier, Indian politician. Member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1892 to 1897.
• Krishna Gopalayyan, Diwan of Travancore from 1768 to 1776.
• V. S. Krishna Iyer (b. 1922), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Member of Lok Sabha from Bangalore South (1984-1989)
• Mani Shankar Aiyar (b. 1941), Indian politician from the Indian National Congress. Union Minister of Panchayat Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports.
• V. Nagam Aiya (1850-1917), civil servant, chronicler and administrator from the princely state of Travancore. Author of The Travancore State Manual.
• T. S. Narayana Iyer, Indian lawyer and civil servant. Diwan of Cochin kingdom from 1925 to 1930.
• C. R. Pattabhiraman (1906-2001), Indian lawyer and politician. Member of Lok Sabha for Kumbakonam (1957-1967). Eldest son of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer.
• J. Radhakrishnan (b. 1966), Indian civil servant and administrator.
• P. Ramamurthi (1908-1987), Communist leader and Indian independence activist.
• R. Ramasubbier, Indian politician, theosophist and Indian independence activist. Member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1892 to 1894.
• Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer (1879-1966), Indian lawyer, administrator and statesman. Advocate General of State of Madras (1920-1923), Diwan of Travancore (1936-1947).
• Ramayyan Dalawa, Dewan of Travancore from 1737 to 1756. Strategic advisor to Maharaja Martanda Varma during the Battle of Colachel against the Dutch.
• Ramesh Kallidai Secretary General, Hindu Forum of Britain.
• Sankaranarayana Iyen, Diwan of Travancore from 1815 to 1816.
• Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, (1845-1901) Diwan of Mysore from February 1883 to March 1901, the longest tenure for any Dewan of the princely state. Regarded as the "maker of modern Bangalore".
• T. V. Seshagiri Iyer (1860-1926), Indian lawyer and politician. Member of the Madras Legislative Council 1923-1926. Founder of the India Boat Club in Kodaikanal.
• T. N. Seshan (b. 1930), 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
• Sir A. Seshayya Sastri (1828-1903), Indian administrator. Dewan of Travancore from 1872 to 1877 and Pudukkottai from 1878 to 1894.
• M. R. Sethuratnam Iyer, Indian politician. Minister of Development in the government of P. Subbarayan from 1928 to 1930.
• S. Shungrasoobyer (1836-1904), Dewan of Travancore from 1892 to 1898.
• R. V. Srinivasa Aiyar, Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council 1902-.
• Subramanian Swamy (b. 1939), Indian lawyer, academician, economist and Politician, President of the Janata Party.
• V. S. Subramanya Iyer, Indian lawyer and administrator. Diwan of Travancore from 1929 to 1932.
• K. Subrahmanyam (1929-2011), Former Secretary (Defense Production), Home Secretary (Tamil Nadu) and Director (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses).
• Vadiswaran Subrahmanya Iyer, Diwan of Travancore from 1776 to 1780.
• Varkala Subbiyen, Diwan of Travancore from 1763 to 1768.
• R. Venkataraman (1910-2009), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Served as the 8th President of India (1987-1992); Vice-President of India (1984-1987)
• Raju Narayanaswamy Civil Servant from Kerala

Businesspeople, industrialists and enterpreneurs

• S. Anantharamakrishnan (1905-1964), Indian industrialist and business tycoon. First Indian director of Simpson and Co. and later, Chairman of the Amalgamations Group.
• S. Gurumurthy, Economist and Convenor of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
• Indra Nooyi (b. 1955), CEO of Pepsico.
• T. V. Ramasubbaiyer (1908-1984), Tamil journalist. Founder of Tamil newspaper Dina Malar.
• S. N. N. Sankaralinga Iyer (1901-1969), Founder, India Cements (now part of Sanmar Group), Chennai.
• V. Seshasayee, Founder of Seshasayee Group.
• N. Srinivasan, Indian industrialist, sports administrator and socialite who is the Managing-Director of the India Cements Limited, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and owner of the Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team. Grandson of S. N. N. Sankaralinga Iyer.
• Subrah Iyar (b. 1957), CEO of WebEx
• Ramani Ayer ex CEO of The Hartford

People with Iyer ancestry or heritage

• Ajith Kumar (b.1970), Tamil film actor
• Anirudha Srikkanth (b. 1987), Indian cricketer. Member of Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy squad and Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League.
• Arun Dravid, Hindusthani classical singer
• S. A. K. Durga (b.1940), Indian musicologist and ethnomusicologist. Founder-director of the Centre of Ethnomusicology in Chennai.
• Gemini Ganesan (1920-2005), Tamil film actor.
• Gnani (b.1954), Tamil journalist and political critic.
• Lakshmi (b.1951) Kollywood and Bollywood actress and TV anchor.
• Lakshmi Sehgal (b.1914), Head of Rani Jhansi Brigade, women's wing of the INA and a close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. Presidential candidate in 2002 President's election.
• Muthulakshmi Reddi (1886-1968), Indian medical practitioner, politician and social reformer. Aunt of Gemini Ganesan.
• Mrinalini Sarabhai (b.1918), Indian classical artist and dancer. Sister of Lakshmi Sehgal and wife of scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
• Rahul Dravid (b.1974), Indian test and one-day cricketer and captain of Indian team from 2005 to 2007.
• Rekha Ganesan (b.1954), Bollywood actress, daughter of Gemini Ganesan.
• Saranya Bhagyaraj, Tamil film actress, daughter of Poornima Bhagyaraj
• Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj (b.1984), actor
• Srividya (1953-2006), Tamil film actress. Daughter of M. L. Vasanthakumari.
• M. S. Subbulakshmi (1916-2004), singer of Carnatic music.
• P. G. N. Unnithan, Indian administrator. Diwan of Travancore from 1947 to 1948. Descendant of Ramayyan Dalawa.
• M. L. Vasanthakumari (1928-1990), singer

Iyers in popular culture

Further information: Portrayal of Tamil Brahmins in popular media

Notes

1. ^ Suresh Singh, Kumar; B. V. Bhanu, B. R. Bhatnagar, D. K. Bose, V. S. Kulkarni, J. Sreenath (2004). Maharashtra. Popular Prakashan. p. 1873. ISBN 8179911020. 
2. ^ "Iyer". Uttarakhand Information Centre. http://www.4dham.com/go2/Iyer.html. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
3. ^ The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume XVI. London: Clarendon Press. 1908. , Pg 267
4. ^ Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Pg 269
5. ^ Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature,Appendix III, The Case of Akattiyam; Sanskrit and Tamil;Kankam, Pg 235 - 260
6. ^ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 107
7. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1966). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar: from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press. p. 289. 
8. ^ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 57
9. ^ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 65
10. ^ Ghose, Rajeshwari (1996). The Tyāgarāja cult in Tamilnāḍu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 10. ISBN 81-208-1391-X, ISBN 978-81-208-1391-5. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Robert Eric Frykenberg. "Elite Formation in 19th Century South India - An Interpretive Analysis". tamilnation.org. http://www.tamilnation.org/conferences/IATR66_Kuala_Lumpur/frykenberg.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-11. ^{[dead link]}
12. ^ Slater, Pg 168
13. ^ Sivaraman, Mythily (2006). Fragments of a Life: A Family Archive. Zubaan. p. 4. ISBN 8189013114, ISBN 978-81-89013-11-0. 

References

• Ghurye, G. S. (1991). Caste and Race in India. Bombay: Popular Prakashan. 
• Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India. BRILL. ISBN 9004035915. 
• Chitty, Simon Casie (1859). The Tamil Plutarch, containing a summary account of the lives of poets and poetesses of Southern India and Ceylon. Jaffna: Ripley & Strong.