The Malayali people (Malayalam: [mɐlɐjaːɭi]; also spelt Malayalee and sometimes known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnic group native to the southern Indian state of Kerala, and the union territory of Lakshadweep.
The Malayalis are a people who speak the Malayalam language, a member of the South Dravidian subgroup of the Dravidian language family. They primarily reside in India, forming the majority population of the state of Kerala and also living in the union territory of Lakshadweep.
Malayalam cinema ranks among the best in the world in terms of story-driven plots and cinematography, and are regular winners at international film festivals. The realistic portrayal of the intricacies of human life are a hallmark of Malayali films.
Malayalis, who may simply be defined as those people who speak the Dravidian language Malayalam (the Kerala state language, closely related to Tamil), include not only a diversity of Hindu castes but the Muslim Mappilas, the Syrian Christians, the Cochin Jews, and others besides.
Malayalam (മലയാളം, Malayāḷam, [mɐlɐjaːɭɐm] ⓘ) [a] is a Dravidian language, primarily spoken by the Malayali people, native to the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district).
The Malayali people (also spelled Malayalee people) are the native speakers of the Malayalam language. They originate from the south of the current Indian state of Kerala. Sometimes they are called Keralites.
The Malayali diaspora predominantly practices Hinduism, with minorities practicing Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Atheism, and other religions. The diaspora maintains strong cultural ties to Kerala, often celebrating traditional festivals and preserving their language, Malayalam.