Dravidian peoples

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The Dravidian peoples are a group of ethnic and language groups native to South Asia who speak Dravidian languages. About 250 million people today are native Dravidian speakers. The largest groups are the Telugus and Tamils (each around 90 million), followed by Kannadigas, Malayalis, and Gonds. Four Dravidian languages—Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam—are among India’s 22 scheduled languages. Dravidian speakers form the majority in southern India and are also found in other countries through migration.

Origins and language
Dravidians are generally considered indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. Some theories link them to the Indus Valley Civilisation, while others place their roots more firmly in India. Proto-Dravidian is thought to have been spoken in the 4th–3rd millennium BCE, with major branches forming around the 2nd millennium BCE. Genetically, modern Dravidian speakers share ancient South Indian hunter-gatherer ancestry, plus some Indus Valley ancestry and small amounts of other regional influences.

History and culture
In South India, powerful empires such as the Pandya, Chola, Chera, Pallava and others rose from about the 3rd century BCE onward. Merchants and guilds from southern India traded with Southeast Asia, helping spread Indian culture. Dravidian visual art is famous for temple architecture and sculpture, especially from the Chola period. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu is one of the largest functioning Hindu temples in the world and exemplifies Dravidian temple style.

Language and religion
The term Dravidian was popularized in modern times, but the word and its connections go back to early South India. Dravidian languages have deeply influenced some Indo-Aryan languages, mainly in vocabulary and, to a lesser extent, in grammar and sounds. In turn, Indo-Aryan languages have shaped Dravidian languages as well, through long contact. Ancient Dravidian religious ideas and practices influenced later Hindu worship; many village deities and temple rituals trace back to pre-Vedic traditions. Early Tamil literature, temple-centered beliefs, and the worship of deities like Murugan and Siva are notable features. The Agamas, a set of Tamil and Sanskrit scriptures, guided temple building, worship, and philosophy.

Culture and everyday life
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam each have rich literary and artistic traditions. Dravidian music (Carnatic) and dance (notably Bharatanatyam, which has roots in temple performances) are well known. Dravidian scripts, such as Grantha and Pallava, helped shape other Southeast Asian writing systems. In modern times, Dravidian-language film industries have flourished: Kollywood (Tamil), Tollywood (Telugu), Sandalwood (Kannada), and Mollywood (Malayalam).

Tradition and dress
Traditionally, Dravidian men often wear a lungi or dhoti (veshti/panche/mundu, depending on the region). Women commonly wear a sari, with many regional draping styles. Dravidian culture also includes distinctive theatre, dance, martial arts (like Kalaripayattu and Silambam), and sports such as kabaddi and boat races.

Diaspora
Dravidian-speaking communities have spread beyond India, with people in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, Mauritius and other places forming vibrant diasporas.