List of people from Pala
Notable people from Palai include:
Politicians
- K. R. Narayanan, President of India, Vice-President of India.
- K M Mani, Minister of Finance, Revenue, Laws, Kerala State.
- Jose K. Mani Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha.
- N M Joseph, Minister of Forests, Kerala State
- M M Jacob, Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Home, State Governor of Meghalaya.
- Kidangoor Gopalakrishna Pillai, General Secretary of NSS and Indian High-Commissioner to Singapore.
- P K Vasudevan Nair, Member of Parliament, Chief Minister of Kerala State.
- K M Chandy, State Governor, President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.
- Cherian J. Kappan, Freedom Fighter, Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha. Municipal Chairman.
- George Thomas Kottukapally, Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha, U.N. Delegate.
- R V Thomas, President of Travancore State Legislative Assembly.
- Dr P J Thomas, Member of Madras Legislative Council, 1937–42 and Member of Indian Parliament - Rajya Sabha 1957-62.
- Ulahannan Ulahannan Vadakkan, Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State.
- J Thomas Kayalackakom, Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State.
Literature, education and social service
- Aryambika S. V., Malayalam poet.
- Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar: Author of "Varthamana Pusthakam", the first travelogue in an Indian language.
- Ramapurathu Warrier - Poet.
- Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai - Author of Sri Yesu Vijayam & Editor of Vijnaana Rathnaakaram
- Pala Narayanan Nair, poet, teacher, most celebrated work 'keralam valarunnu'
- Pravithanam PM Devasia, poet
- Lalithambika Antharjanam, novelist
- Fr. Abel Periapuram, Founder of Kalabhavan.
- Paul Zacharia, writer & columnist
- Ezhacherry Ramachandran, poet
- Bishop Sebastian Vayalil, Founder of St. Thomas College
- Cyriac Thomas, former Vice Chancellor
Government and administration
- V. Joseph Thomas IPS, Director General of Police, Kerala.
- V. J. Kurian IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary to Govt. of Kerala. Managing Director of the World's First Solar Powered Airport
- B. Sandhya IPS, writer and police officer.
Sports
- Col. G.V. Raja, sports promoter
- M D Valsamma, athletics, Asian Games Gold Medalist
- Mani C. Kappan international volleyball player
Commerce and industry
- Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom - Managing Director of Palai Central Bank.
- Varkey Ouseph Vellookunnel
Movies
- Bhadran, movie director
- Miss Kumari, Malayalam actress in leading roles
- Suvarna Mathew, actress
- Ponnamma Babu, actress
- Pala Thankam, actress
- Miya, actress
- Mani C. Kappan, director, producer, actor
- Rimi Tomy, singer
- Meenakshi Anoop, actress
- Listin Stephen, film producer
Journalists
- Jose Panachippuram, associate editor, Malayala Manorama daily
- Eby J Jose, editor, Gulf Life magazine