Thalassery Rocks...

Notable citizens

• Herman Gundert, a German missionary who lived in Thalassery, wrote the first Malayalam dictionary (Malayalam-English) in 1872.
• C. V. Devan Nair, the third president of Singapore, hailed from Thalassery.
• Oyyarathu Chandhumenon, author of the first Malayalam novel, Indulekha, was also from Thalassery.
• Keeleri Kunhiraman: Tellicherry is considered to be the birth place of the Indian Circus; Keeleri Kunhikannan is a legend in the history of the circus.
• Moorkoth Kumaran, a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru, wrote a biography of that guru.
• Moorkoth Kunhappa, was associate editor of Malayala Manorama.
• Sanjayan (M. R. Nair), a Malayalam satirist, was from Thalassery.
• Koramban Mestry, was a very big landlord and businessman, and a great friend of Gundert. His descendents (Kambil's) are spread all over the globe and are extremely successful in their respective fields.
• Moozhikara Unni, eldest of the Unni brothers, famous cloth merchants with exports to South East Asia was from Thalassery.
• A.K. Gopalan, (A.K.G) Communist party of India (Marxist), one time opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, was from Thalassery.
• V.P. Sathyan, former captain of Indian national Football team, hailed from Thalassery.
• Pattiam. K. Kumaran, one of the early communist leaders who worked with many prominent leaders during his time, hailed from Pattiam. Founder of first parallel college in Thalassery under the name 'Pattiams College' in 1950's. He was the teacher of Pattiam Gopalan.
• Nettur P. Damodaran, author, freedom fighter, recipient of 'Thanrapatra', social worker, member of Parliament in the Ist Lok Sabha from Tellichery constituency, Chairman - Backward class reservation commission later known as Nettur Commission. Contributed to the liberation of Mahe from French Colonial Empire's rule. He is the brother of Payyan Karunakaran, one of the most colorful characters of Nettur.
• Dr. TVN Nair, Eminent leader of the freedom movement in Indian history as well as a distinguished personality in the social, cultural and political arena of Tellicherry. He paved the way for the freedom movement in North Malabar and Old Kottayam Taluk, with specific focus on Tellicherry. He hailed from the renowned "Thalassery Veedu" family and was a doctor by profession.