The Marudhu Pandiyars were chieftains of Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, India, towards the end of the 18th century. They were known for fighting against the East India Company. In 1782, Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, (the Nawab of Arcot) who claimed overlordship over the Southern kingdoms, sent officials from the East India Company to collect taxes from the rulers. When the king refused after long negotiations, he and the queen were killed at their palace one night. However Marudhu Pandiyar and first Queen Velunachiyar escaped, and stayed with Gopala Nayak in Virupakshipuram for 7 years. After this time, an alliance of kingdoms led by the Pandiyar attacked Sivagangai and retook it in 1789. Both Maruthu Pandiyar were given high positions in the kingdom.
The Marudhu Pandiyars, planned to war against East India Company in India. They gave the protection to Velunachiyar who was temporarily seeking refuge from the chaos of war. They along with the war leader Sivagangai and many of their family members, were captured at Cholapuram and were killed at Tiruppattur. They were hanged in the fort of Tirupputhur, which is now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, on 24 October 1801.