The People Who Made It

Kings and poets, reformers and directors, composers and singers — every name here is drawn directly from NSKHub's history, cinema and music entries, not a separate biography database.

History

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Avvaiyar (Sangam era)

The Sangam Age · Ancient

C. N. Annadurai

The Dravidian Movement and Modern Tamil Nadu · Modern

Kapilar

The Sangam Age · Ancient

Karikala Chola

Karikala Chola and the Early Cholas · Ancient

M. G. Ramachandran

The Dravidian Movement and Modern Tamil Nadu · Modern

M. Karunanidhi

The Dravidian Movement and Modern Tamil Nadu · Modern

Mahendravarman I

The Pallava Dynasty and Mahabalipuram · Classical

Nakkirar

The Sangam Age · Ancient

Narasimhavarman I

The Pallava Dynasty and Mahabalipuram · Classical

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy

Colonial Era and the Freedom Movement in Tamil Nadu · Colonial

Rajaraja Chola I

Rise of the Imperial Cholas · Medieval

Rajasimha

The Pallava Dynasty and Mahabalipuram · Classical

Rajendra Chola I

Rise of the Imperial Cholas · Medieval

Subramania Bharati

Colonial Era and the Freedom Movement in Tamil Nadu · Colonial

Thirumalai Nayak

Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayak Governors · Medieval

Tholkappiyar

The Sangam Age · Ancient

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

Colonial Era and the Freedom Movement in Tamil Nadu · Colonial

Vijayalaya Chola

Rise of the Imperial Cholas · Medieval

Vishwanatha Nayak

Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayak Governors · Medieval

Reform & Public Life

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A. R. Rahman

The composer of Roja, Bombay and two Academy Award-winning scores was born in Chennai, ushering in a new era of Tamil film music.

Bharathidasan

The 'Revolutionary Poet' (Puratchi Kavignar), a devoted follower of Bharathiyar known for his rationalist verse, died in Puducherry.

C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

The statesman, writer and last Governor-General of India, who also served as Chief Minister of Madras, was born in Thorapalli.

Ilaiyaraaja

The 'Maestro' who fused Western orchestration with Tamil folk and Carnatic idiom across a thousand-plus film scores celebrates his birthday.

J. Jayalalithaa

The actress-turned-politician who served as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister for over 14 years was born in Mysore State.

Jayakanthan

The Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi-winning novelist and filmmaker, celebrated for unflinching realism, was born in Cuddalore.

Kalki Krishnamurthy

The journalist and novelist behind Ponniyin Selvan and Sivagamiyin Sabatham, who brought Chola history to millions of readers, was born in Puttamangalam.

Kamal Haasan

The actor-filmmaker behind Nayakan, Hey Ram and Anbe Sivam, one of Indian cinema's most versatile performers, was born in Paramakudi.

M. G. Ramachandran (MGR)

The matinee idol who became a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and founder of the AIADMK was born in Kandy, Ceylon.

Pudhumaipithan

C. Viruthachalam, who wrote as Pudhumaipithan and reshaped the modern Tamil short story, was born in Tirunelveli district.

Rajinikanth

The 'Superstar' of Tamil cinema, whose Japanese-dubbed Muthu made him an international phenomenon, was born in Bangalore.

Sivaji Ganesan

The actor whose Parasakthi courtroom monologue made him a star, and who remains the only Indian actor honoured with France's Chevalier des Arts, died in Chennai.

Subramania Bharati (Bharathiyar)

The Mahakavi whose verses fired both nationalist and social-reform sentiment died in Chennai at just 38.

Sujatha

S. Rangarajan, known as Sujatha, the prolific novelist and science writer who modernized Tamil popular fiction, died in Chennai.

U. V. Swaminatha Iyer

The scholar whose decades of manuscript-hunting rescued Sangam classics like the Ettuthogai from near-total loss was born in Thanjavur district.