Avvai Natarajan (24 April 1936 – 21 November 2022) was an Indian scholar and educationist who was Vice-Chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University.

The Government of India honored Natarajan in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.

[7] He has delivered keynote addresses in many seminars[8] and held the chair of the selection committee of the Aram Award.

[9] In 2011, the Government of India honoured him with the civilian award of Padma Shri, honoring his contributions towards Tamil language and culture.

[1] Natarajan died in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 21 November 2022, at the age of 86.