This list of University of Madras people includes notable graduates, professors, and administrators affiliated with the University of Madras. Five heads of state and two Nobel laureates have been associated with the university.
Arts
K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, Historian and author, Padma Bhushan (1957)
Sarvepalli Gopal, Indian historian, Padma Vibhushan (1999)
Ranvir Shah, Founder of Prakriti Foundation
Gemini Ganesan, Tamil film actor, Padma Shri (1971)
Mani Ratnam, Film director, screenwriter and producer, Padma Shri (2002)
Sashi Kumar, Journalist and film director, Founder, Asianet
Chitra Ramanathan, Contemporary fine artist, Painting
M.G. Ramachandran, Film actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Bharat Ratna (1988)
Mahesh Babu, Telugu film actor, Filmfare Awards South (3), Nandi Awards (7)
K. C. S. Paniker, Abstract painter, Lalit Kala Akademi Ratna (1976)
Business and Economics
Jay Vijayan, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Tesla Motors
Kakkadan Nandanath Raj, one of the architects of the Five-Year Plans of India, Padma Vibhushan (2000)
Raja Chelliah, Founding chairman of the Madras School of Economics, Padma Vibhushan (2007)
C. K. Prahalad, Prominent business thinker, Padma Bhushan (2009)
Prathap C. Reddy, Founder, Apollo Hospitals, Padma Vibhushan (2010)
Ram Shriram, Founding board member of Google Inc.
Verghese Kurien, Father of White Revolution in India, Padma Vibhushan (1999)