Unni is used as a first name in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

, India. In the

Malayalam language Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

, it is also used as an adjective meaning an infant boy. Thus, Unnikrishnan or Unnikannan means

Lord Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...

in the infant form and Unniyesu means Yesu (Jesus in Malayalam) in the infant form. The word is also the name of a caste among Hindus in the Southern India State of Kerala. The name Unni is also used as a surname by various sub-groups of

Pushpaka Brahmins Pushpaka Brahmin is a generic term that refers to a group of certain Hindu Brahmin castes in Kerala. The term ''Pushpaka'' applies primarily to a caste known itself as Pushpaka (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assi ...

like Pushpakanunnis, Theeyattunnis and Pattarunnis (Karappuram Unni or Nattuppattar). There is a common belief that Unnis are sub-divided into Pushpakanunnis, Theeyattunnis and Pattarunnis. In fact these are entirely different communities in a common class of Kerala Brahmins and there were no inter caste marriages among these communities anciently. Thiyattunnis were traditionally the performers of an ancient art form called Tīyāttu. The famous Malayalam writer

Kottarathil Sankunni Kottarathil Sankunni (born Vasudevan, 1855–1937) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Best known as the author of Aithihyamala, an eight-volume compilation of century-old legends about Kerala, Sankunni's writings cover prose and poetry ...

was a Tīyāttunni whereas famous essayist D. Padmanabhan Unni was a Pushpakanunni. Thiyattunnis have the right for Tantric Poojas and other privileges enjoyed by the Nambudiri caste.

People

Notable people with name/surname Unni include: *

Unni Mary Unni Mary (born 12 March 1962) is an Indian actress who works mainly in Malayalam films. She has also worked in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films, where she had used the screen name Deepa. Personal life Unnimary was born to Augustine Fernandes a ...

, Indian film actress and producer *

Unni Menon Unni Menon (born 2 December 1955) is an Indian film playback singer. He has recorded over 4000 songs in many Indian languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.S.S.KavutaA melodious journey The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2008 In ...

, Indian film playback singer *

Unni Mukundan Unnikrishnan Mukundan (born 22 September 1987), commonly known as Unni Mukundan, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Telugu and Tamil films. Unni Mukundan made his acting debut with the Ta ...

(born 1987), Indian film actor *

Unni R. P. Jayachandran (born 12 April 1971), better known by his pen name Unni R., is an Indian short-story writer and screenwriter, who is known for his work in Malayalam literature and Malayalam cinema. Born in Kudamaloor in Kottayam district, he i ...

(born Jayachandran Parameswaran in 1971), Indian writer *

Divya Unni Divyaa Unni is an Indian actress and classical dancer who teaches various forms of dance such as Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom. Early life Divyaa Unni was born to Ponnethmadhatil Unnikrishnan and Kizhkemadhatil Uma Devi at Kochi, K ...

(born 1981), Indian actress of Malayalam and Tamil films *

E. P. Unny Ekanath Padmanabhan Unny is an Indian political cartoonist. He hails from the Ekanath Family of Elappully, Palakkad. He studied physics at the University in the Indian state of Kerala. His first cartoon was published in ''Shankar's Weekly' ...

, Indian political cartoonist. * K. S. Neelakantan Unni (1895–1980), Sanskrit scholar, compiled many legends about temples, famous persons, etc. and translated Kalidasa's ''Shakuntalam'' to Malayalam *

, Malayalam writer * M. K. Unni Nayar (1911–1950), Indian journalist *

Monisha Unni Monisha Unni (24 January 1970 – 5 December 1992) was an Indian actress, known for her works in Malayalam, Tamil cinema. Monisha was 16 when she became the youngest actress ever to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress for ''N ...

(1971–1992), Indian film actress * P. Unni, Indian politician *

P. Unnikrishnan Parakkal Unnikrishnan (born 9 July 1966) is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and playback singer. Early life and background Unnikrishnan was born to K. Radhakrishnan and Dr. Harini Radhakrishnan in Palakkad, Kerala. The family home, Kesari Kutee ...

(born 1966), Carnatic vocalist and playback singer * R. S. Unni (1925–1999), Indian politician *

Urmila Unni Urmila Unni is an Indian classical dancer and actress who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Her daughter Utthara Unni is also an actress. Personal life Unni was born on June 14th, 1962 into a royal family as the daughter of K. C. Anuja ...

, Indian dancer and actress *

Utthara Unni Utthara Unni is an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer from Kerala. She has directed some short films, documentaries and music videos. She also acted in two films. She heads a dance academy called Temple Steps in Kochi, Kerala. Career As a dancer ...

, Indian film actress * V.K. Unni, Indian academic *

Varun Unni Varun Unni is an Indian composer and singer. He made his film composing debut in 2012, with the Malayalam film '' Annum Innum Ennum''. He has been predominantly composing for television commercials besides having sporadic music video releases. ...

, Indian film composer and singer *

Vidhya Unni Vidhya Unni (born 30 June 1990) is an Indian actress, television presenter and dancer who works prominently in Mollywood film industry The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions ...

, Indian film actress *

Unni Raja Unni may refer to: People * Unni (Indian name) * Unni (Norwegian given name) * Unni (bishop) 9th century German bishop Indian Malayalam films * ''Unni'' (1989 film) * ''Unni'' (2007 film) * ''Unni Vanna Divasam ''Unni Vanna Divasam'' is a 1 ...

, Indian Grandfather of Charles Raja * Narayanan Parameswaran Unni (1936-), Sanskrit scholar, former Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala (1996 – 2000) *

Sandeep Unnikrishnan Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC (15 March 1977 – 28 November 2008) was an Indian Army officer, who was serving in the 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guards on deputation. He was Martyred in action during the November 2008 Mumbai ...

, Indian Army Officer *

B. Unnikrishnan Unnikrishnan B (born 14 August 1970) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, distributor and exhibitor who works in the Malayalam film industry. Early life Unnikrishnan. B. was born on 14 August 1970 in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, I ...

, Indian (Kerala) Movie director

References

{{Reflist * ''Tiyyatunnikal'' by S Damodaran Unni Malayali Brahmins Social groups of Kerala Indian surnames

People

See also

References