Kadayam boasts a notable association with Tamil's revolutionary poet, Subramania Bharati.

A local legend says that its people were originally living around the Kalyani Amman temple; however, the temple goddess could not tolerate the noise created by the inhabitants, so she pulled out a Kadayam (a bracelet in ancient Tamil) and threw it outside.

Bharati's wife was a native of Kadayam[3] and it is believed that Bharathiyar often sang patriotic songs from his in-laws rooftop.

He composed his Kali songs, the Panchali Sabhadam and most of his revolutionary poems including "Chinnanchiru Kiliye","Odi Vilayadu Pappa" and "Kaani Nilam Vendum" there.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has released a variety PKM-1, bred by local selection from Kadayam through its research station at Periakulam.