Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai (1826–1889), also known as Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai was an Indian civil servant, Tamil poet, novelist and social worker who is remembered for the authorship of Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram (1879), recognized as the "first modern Tamil novel".

On completing his education, Vedanayagam joined the judicial court of Trichinopoly as record keeper and soon was elevated as a translator.

He learnt Sanskrit, French and Latin during his tenure and then cleared his law exams.

In total he wrote 16 books of which Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram (1879) is regarded as the first Tamil Novel.

One of his compositions Nayagar Pakshamadi, (a Ragamaliga - Saama / Shanmugapriya / Kedara Gowla) was included for a dance scene in the Tamil film Doctor Savithri (1955).