Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: അനിഴം തിരുനാൾ മാര്‍ത്താണ്ഡ വര്‍മ്മ; 1706–1758) was a king of Travancore (Trippappur Swaroopam) from 1729 till his death in 1758. He annexed several neighboring states and contributed substantially to the expansion of Travancore. Under his rule Travancore rose to prominence as a powerful military state in South India. He was succeeded by his nephew Kartika Tirunal Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja").

King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of modern Kingdom of Travancore". The rulers of Venad trace their relations back to the Ay kingdom and the Later Chera kingdom. Marthanda Varma crowned in his twenties, successfully suppressed the feudal lords, defeated the local kingdoms of Attingal, Kollam (Desinganad), Kayamkulam, Kottarakara (Ilayidathu Swaroopam), Pandalam, Ambalapuzha, Kottayam, Changanassery, Meenachil, Karappuram, and Alangad and fought numerous battles against the Dutch and the kingdom of Cochin with the help of the British East India Company. In the famous Battle of Colachel (1741), Marthanda Varma's army defeated the Dutch East India Company, resulting in the complete eclipse of Dutch power in Malabar. In this battle, Marthanda Varma captured the Flemish admiral of the VOC Eustachius De Lannoy who would later modernize the Travancore army by introducing better firearms and artillery. This battle in the Travancore-Dutch War (1739–1753) is considered the earliest example of an organized Asian power overcoming European military technology and tactics; and it signaled the decline of Dutch power in India. He was also successful in defeating the Zamorin of Calicut in a battle at Purakkad. Ramayyan Dalawa, the Prime Minister (1737–1756) of Marthanda Varma, also played an important role in this consolidation and expansion.

Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma (born 22 March 1922) is the scion of the former Travancore royal family.

He joined the firm of Plymouth and Company at Bangalore in 1952, working there and also studying the functioning of industries at a basic level. He is the Chief Scout of the regional Boy Scout troop, and is also a patron of local hospitals and charities.

He married Shrimati Radha Devi, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Krishnan Gopinath Pandalai, MB, CM, FRCS, LRCP, late IMS, sometime Supt. of the Government General Hospital, Madras. He has a son, Anantha Padmanabhan and a daughter, Parvathi Devi. He resides at Pattom Palace, Trivandrum.

Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Rama Raja Bahadur Shamsher Jung (26 September 1814 - 18 August 1860) was the Maharajah of Travancore state in southern India, succeeding his elder brother Maharajah Swathi Thirunal in 1846 till his demise in 1860. Known for his progressive rule, he abolished slavery in the kingdom. He was succeeded by his nephew Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal in 1860. His mother was Her Highness Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. He was married to Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Madhavi Pillai Kochamma of the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu, who died in 1860, a few months before the Maharajah's death. She was the younger sister of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal's consort. The Maharajah's daughter was married by his nephew and heir Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal.

The Maharajah also adopted Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and Bharani Thirunal Parvathi Bayi from the related Kolathiri royal house in 1857 after the death of his niece to perpetuate the royal line.

Dr.Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, better known as B R Shetty, is Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi based New Medical Centre Group of Companies and UAE Exchange. The company when established in 1975 was initially interested in hospitals and hospitality, but since then has diversified into sectors including pharmaceuticals, global financial services, retail, advertising and Information technology.

Born in a Bunt family to Shambhu Shetty and Koosamma Shetty. The Shettys' hailed from the Bavaguthu clan who were among the biggest landlords in Kaup, Udupi district, Karnataka, India.Completing his early education in his native India. B R Shetty is a trained pharmacist. He married Chandra Kumari Shetty and has three daughters and a son.

Indian-born B R Shetty arrived in the UAE in 1973. As a trained pharmacist he quickly spotted an opportunity in the country’s healthcare sector and in 1975 opened his first pharmacy. This was quickly followed by the establishment of the New Medical Centre, which also included a dedicated dental department, in 1977. In 2003, the group became the largest hospital chain in the UAE following the acquisition of the National Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Today, it has hospitals and clinics across the emirates and treats more than one million patients a year.