Pillai, G. Sankara Kurup and Balachandran Chullikkadu, and critic Kuttipuzha Krishnapilla, and novelist Subash Chandran are from Aluva and lived there. Though not from Aluva area, Vayalar Ramavarma and O.N.V Kurup wrote about Periyar and the town Aluva was an integral part of their paying homage to the most lively river of the state of Kerala, Periyar. The mimicry comedy revolution that dominated the cultural landscape of Kerala beginning 1980's originated in Aluva by stand-up comedians from that area, though they got larger audience and fans in Kochi and in Malayalam movies later which would make them cultural fixations of Kerala's pop culture. The movie star Dileep is from later part of that era. With Kochi becoming the base for Mollywood, several parts of the city including Aluva has featured in numerous films, like Premam (portraying the erstwhile Aluva town in the 90s and early 2000s), Nizhal etc. Several newspapers and magazines were published from Aluva during the print era. Continuing with that tradition the first online magazine and blogging platform was also started in Aluva by puzha.com, which continues to exist in the cyberspace. Notable people Dileep (film actor) John Abraham (Bollywood actor) Nivin Pauly (film actor) Amala Paul (film actress) Pearle Maaney (film actress, TV host) Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly M. K. Mackar Pillay (industrialist) M. M. Abdul Khader (former Advocate General of Kerala) M. M. Pareed Pillay (former Chief Justice of Kerala) Kalamandalam Haridas Sainuddin Siju Wilson (film actor) N. F. Varghese (film actor) Ajmal Ameer (film actor) Alphonse Puthren (film director) Sharaf U Dheen (film actor) Shabareesh Varma (film actor, poet, singer) Venu V. Desom (poet) Tini Tom (film actor, comedian) Sitaraman Sankaranarayana Iyer (nature activist) N. K. Desam (poet) G.N. Gopal(Indian Chess Grandmaster) Krishna Sankar (film actor) Dilas (athlete) Shritha Sivadas (actor) Business City Water- residential apartment aluva Aluva is the home of many business headquarters. Aluva is known for its "Aluva Pukayillatha Aduppu" (smokeless stove) invented by the Alwaye Settlement Church many business headquarters. One of the well established private sector bank in India, The Federal Bank has its headquarters in Aluva. Colleges and schools Many educational institutions are located in Aluva. Colleges Union Christian College, Aluva St.Xaviers College for Women Aluva Bharata Matha College of Commerce and Arts, Aluva MES College Marampally, Aluva Bharata Mata School of Legal Studies Aluva Carmel College of Nursing Nalamile, Aluva Al Ameen College Edathala, Aluva MES M. K.