Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
Indian businessman and philanthropist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti (born 9 November 1940) is an Indian textile industrialist and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Nalli Silks, a major saree retail chain based in Chennai. Known for his patronage of the arts and education, Chetti has contributed extensively to cultural institutions and literary works. He has authored 68 Tamil books, including Vetrikku Moondre Padigal, Needhi Noolgalil Nirvagam, and Padagacheri Mahan.[3][4]
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Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti | |
|---|---|
Chetti in 2025 | |
| Born | 9 November 1940 Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education | Business Management |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupations | Industrialist, philanthropist |
| Organization | Nalli |
| Known for | Chairmanship of Nalli Silks |
| Children | Ramanathan Nalli, Vishwanathan Nalli, Geetha Devi, Jayashree |
| Awards |
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Early life and education
Chetti was born in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, into a Padmasali weaving community.[5] He studied at the Ramakrishna Mission School and pursued business management at the University of Washington.[6]
Career
After the death of his grandfather, Nalli Chinnasamy Chetti, in 1958, Chetti took over the family-run Nalli Silks and expanded it into a nationally recognized brand in traditional Indian textiles.[7]
Cultural involvement
He is closely associated with several cultural and music organizations. He serves as:
- President of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Sri Bhairavi Gana Sabha, Mudhra, Mylapore Fine Arts Club, and Chennai Cultural Academy.
- Vice President of the Madras Film Society and the Mylapore Academy.[8]
- Patron of the Tamil Chamber of Commerce.[9]
Positions held
| Position | Organization |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Nalli Silks |
Awards and recognition
| Year | Award | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Padma Bhushan | Government of India[1] |
| 2006 | Employer-Employee Relationship Award | The Rotary Club of Madras[10] |
| 2003 | Padma Shri | Government of India[2] |
| 2000 | Kalaimamani | Government of Tamil Nadu[11] |
