Vellayani Arjunan (10 February 1933 – 31 May 2023) was an Indian writer, scholar, and linguist from Kerala.

[1] He served two terms at the State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications as chief editor from 1975 to 1988[2] and as director from 2001 to 2004.

[8] A recipient of the Paramacharya Award from Sarojini Bhaskaran Memorial Charitable Public Trust, he was honored by the Government of India in 2008 with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

He later became the first Malayalam lecturer[12] in Aligarh Muslim University, from which he gained his PhD degree in 1964.

[13] After leaving Aligarh Muslim University, he was appointed director of the State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications in Kerala.