Malayali Americans (), also known by the term American Malayalees (), are citizens of the United States of America who belong to the Malayali ethnolinguistic group. Their ancestry originates wholly or partly from the Indian state of Kerala.
History Malayali nurses were first recruited in Metro New York in the 1960s. They began bringing their families in the 1970s. Later waves in the 1990s into the early 2000s added a contingent of computer and business professionals to the population. Many of these later immigrants were Christians and Hindus, with few Muslims.
Malayali nurses, who were sponsored for jobs, were among the first Indians to settle in the Philadelphia area. Most of them lived in Millbourne.Immigration, A. I. (2010). Demographic Background: Philadelphia and the United States. Global Philadelphia: Immigrant Communities Old and New, 253.
In recent years, the migration trends of Malayali people shifted to the United States as they seek opportunities.
Demographics As of 2009–2013, there were approximately 146,000 people with Malayali heritage in the United States, with an estimated 40,000 living in the New York tri-state area. The majority of Malayali Americans live in areas like Bergen County, New Jersey, Rockland County, New York, New York City, Chicago metro area, Philadelphia, Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Los Angeles.
Religions Hinduism The Malayali Hindu community in the United States forms a significant portion of the Malayali Americans, with sizeable Christian and Muslim minorities. Community organizations such as the Hindu Malayalee Mandalam (HIMAM) – formed in North Carolina in 2016 after informal gatherings since 1999 – actively promote Kerala Hindu cultural traditions, festivals like Vishu, and community cohesion in the Research Triangle area. Similarly, the Association of Tampa Hindu Malayali celebrates Onam annually with traditional performances, youth programs, and community gatherings that reinforce Malayali identity.
Islam The Malayali Muslim community in the United States also participates actively in preserving its cultural and religious heritage. Organizations like Malayali Muslims of USA (MMUSA) facilitate community bonding through cultural, matrimonial, and charity-focused programs. The Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC USA & Canada) provides broader social welfare services including financial aid, career counseling, and relocation support. In March 2023, North American Malayali Muslims organized the first interfaith Iftaar meet in New Jersey, bringing together over 400 Muslim families and leaders from various faiths to promote interfaith harmony.
Christianity Christian sects from Kerala have established multiple worship communities in United StatesTraditional Indian Churches in the US at a Glance , usindian.org The Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church, native to India since the 1st-century, established St. Thomas Syro-Malabar diocese of Chicago was established in 2001. St. Thomas Day is celebrated in this church on July 3 every year. Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of the United States of America and Canada is home to 23 parishes and missions in different cities. Its cathedral is the St. Vincent de Paul Syro Malankara Catholic Cathedral in Elmont, New York. Its church includes the St. Jude Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The St. Thomas Syro Malabar Church is a congregation in Framingham, Massachusetts under the jurisdiction of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.
Mar Thoma Syrian Church The Mar Thoma Syrian Church established its presence in the United States in the early 1970s, following increased migration of Malayali Christians after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Early worship gatherings were held in private homes and rented church facilities, with regular services beginning in Queens, New York, in 1972. The first official congregation, Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York, was organized in 1976. The Diocese of North America and Europe was formed in 1993, with its headquarters at the Sinai Mar Thoma Centre in Merrick, New York. As of 2020, the diocese consisted of over 70 parishes and congregations across the United States.
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church began organized worship in the United States during the late 1960s among immigrant families from Kerala, India. The first parish was established in New York in 1970, and in 1979 the American Diocese was formally created under the leadership of Thomas Mar Makarios. His enthronement was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. In 2009, the American Diocese was divided into the Northeast American Diocese, headquartered in Muttontown, New York, and the Southwest American Diocese. Today, the church has numerous parishes, Sunday schools, and charitable activities across the country, maintaining the West Syriac Rite liturgical tradition.
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch, began its organized presence in the United States in the 1980s with the arrival of clergy and faithful from Kerala. The first parish was formed in 1987, and the church has since established congregations in major cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Worship is conducted in the West Syriac Rite, and the church functions under the guidance of the Patriarch of Antioch and the Catholicos of India. The community is engaged in pastoral care, Sunday school education, and cultural activities that preserve its heritage.
Knanaya Community The Knanaya community, an endogamous ethnic group within the Saint Thomas Christian tradition of Kerala, has established a notable presence in the United States since the late 20th century. Members belong to both the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam and the Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox community. The first organized Knanaya Catholic parish in the United States was founded in Chicago in 1983, later becoming the seat of the St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church in Chicago. Today, the Knanaya faithful are served by the St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Parish, Chicago, and several mission churches, while the Knanaya Jacobite community operates parishes under the Syriac Orthodox Church hierarchy. The community maintains its unique cultural practices, liturgical traditions, and emphasis on preserving endogamy.
Language In 1983, the first Kerala Convention was held in New York City, which led to the founding of the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA). FOKANA is a major organization in the United States that promotes the Malayalam language and Malayali culture.
Culture Film and television Comrade in America (2017) Monsoon Mangoes (2016) ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013) Ivide (2015) Ezhamkadalinakkare (1979), the first Malayalam film shot in the US Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990) Peruchazhi (2014) America America (1983) Nothing but Life (2004), released as Made in USA in Malayalam Ranam (2018) Akkarakazhchakal: The Movie (2011) Akkara Kazhchakal (2008-2010), television sitcom
Notable people Literature
Meena Alexander, poet, scholar, and writer Abraham Verghese, author and physician Mira Jacob, writer Tania James, novelist Aimee Nezhukumatathil, poet and essayist Sanjena Sathian, novelist and journalist Sarah Thankam Mathews, novelist Rajiv Joseph, playwright Sandhya Menon, author known for New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi Vijay Menon, writer Shanthi Sekaran, novelist and educator
Academics Mathematicians N. U. Prabhu, mathematician K. C. Sreedharan Pillai, statistician
Deans and presidents Naureen Hassan, American finance executive who serves as the president of UBS Americas; previously served as the first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Economists
Gita Gopinath, economist; served as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), former chief economist at the IMF and Economic Adviser to the Chief Minister of Kerala
Professors Margaret Abraham, professor of sociology at Hofstra University; served as the 18th president (2014–2018) of the International Sociological Association Pulickel Ajayan, professor of engineering at Rice University Nalini Ambady, social psychologist and professor of psychology K. Mani Chandy, Simon Ramo Professor of computer science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Thomas Kailath, professor of engineering at Stanford University Prema Kurien, professor of sociology at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University Geeta Menon, Abraham Krasnoff Professor of Global Business and current chair of the Marketing Department at New York University Stern School of Business P. K. Ramachandran Nair, Distinguished Professor of Agroforestry and International Forestry at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS); also an agricultural scientist V. Parmeswaran Nair, Distinguished Professor at City College of New York Kuzhikalail M. Abraham, professor at Northeastern University, electrochemistry; materials science; lithium, lithium ion, and lithium air batteries Unnikrishna Pillai, professor of electrical engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering Cyriac Pullapilly, professor of history at Saint Mary's College, Indiana; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and former priest of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Business George Kurian, business executive; chief executive officer and a member of the board of NetApp; previously executive vice president of product operations at NetApp Thomas Kurian, business executive and chief executive officer of Google Cloud (under Alphabet Inc.) since 2019 Raj Subramaniam, business executive who is the chief executive officer and president of the FedEx Corporation
Arts and entertainment
RK DreamWest, film director, screenwriter, cinematographer Benny Mathews, director Meera Menon, director, writer, and editor Sunil Nayar, television writer and producer Gita Pullapilly, film and television director, screenwriter, producer, and author Hasna Sal, Glass sculptor, architect, artist and author M. Night Shyamalan, director, filmmaker Ishana Night Shyamalan, filmmaker, screenwriter and producer; daughter of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan Antony Thekkek, producer, author, and writer Julie Titus, model, contestant on America's Next Top Model Serena Varghese, voice actress Alok Vaid-Menon, writer, performance artist, media personality
Actors and actresses Naveen Andrews, actor Melanie Chandra, actress and model Anu Emmanuel, actress Shishir Kurup, actor Jacob Gregory, actor Babu Antony, actor Anchal Joseph, actress and fashion model Mouzam Makkar, actress Lakshmi Devy, actress, screenwriter, producer, director
Comedians Paul Varghese, appeared on Last Comic Standing Dan Nainan, stand-up comedian
Media Rajiv Chandrasekaran, journalist Syma Chowdhry, television host, reporter, and producer Liza Koshy, actress, YouTube comedian and television host Rajan Devadas, photojournalist Suma Josson, journalist and filmmaker Vinita Nair, news anchor, news correspondent Reena Ninan, Middle East correspondent for Fox News Channel Sreenath Sreenivasan, Columbia University professor; WABC-TV technology reporter Ishaan Tharoor, journalist Arun Venugopal, journalist Raj Mathai, television journalist
Musicians
Mathai, former singer; finalist on season 2 of The Voice Kim Thayil, musician and songwriter Appu Krishnan, known professionally as The Professor, music producer and songwriter George Mathew, conductor and humanitarian advocate Saleka, singer-songwriter and actress; daughter of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan Hanumankind, rapper from Kerala who grew up in the US Arjun Menon, playback singer and songwriter
Sports