A Palayakkarar and Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company was Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756–31 July 1805).

Life:

On April 17, 1756, Dheeran Chinnamalai was born into an aristocratic family in the modern-day Kangeyam.Theerthagiri was his original name.

Chinnamalai began learning a variety of fundamental skills at a young age, including sword training, bow training, and wrestling.

The Mysore administration, which was levying taxes in the Kongu region, was opposed by Chinnamalai. Because he stopped the collecting of taxes between Chennimalai and Sivanmalai, he has gone by the moniker Chinnamalai ever since.
 

Wars:

To free India from the British, he joined forces with Tipu Sultan, the King of Mysore. The three wars that were fought in Mysore against the British showed considerable success for Chinnamalai and Tipu Sultan's coalition. The British developed a new military plan in response to their outrage. Following the death of Tipu Sultan, he returned to Odanilai and constructed a citadel after fighting alongside Tipu Sultan against the British at Srirangapatna.

One of the leaders in the Polygar Wars was Chinnamalai, particularly in the Second Polygar War, which lasted from 1801 to 1802.
 

Chinnamalai sought the assistance of Dhondia Wagh and Maruthu Pandiyar after the deaths of Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan in 1799 and led the local Pattakarars, including Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Chinnamalai's sister's husband Kumara Vellai of Perundurai and Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi. 

Chinnamalai was forced to assault Coimbatore alongside the aforementioned Polygars of Kongu Nadu after British forces were able to stop the armies of the allies. He managed to flee from the British forces when his army was routed.Guerrilla warfare was used by Chinnamalai to fight the British at the battles of Arachalur in 1804, Odanilai kangeyam in 1802, and Cauvery in 1801.

Death:

He and his two brothers were allegedly hung at Sankagiri Fort on August 2, 1805, according to some sources; other sources list the date as July 31.
 

 Legacy:

There are monuments and statues honouring Chinnamalai in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode, and Odanila.

India Post published a special postage stamp honouring him on July 31, 2005.

Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation was the name of the Tiruchirapalli division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation prior to 1997.

He is honoured by having his name on the Erode District Collectorate headquarters building.

He was honoured with a name change for the Erode Municipal Corporation headquarters.