G. R. Thanga Maligai

G. R. Thanga Maligai, universally known as GRT Jewellers, is one of India's most recognised jewellery retail brands. It was founded in 1964 in Madras (now Chennai) by Shri G. Rajendran, whose initials gave the firm its name. From a single storefront in the bustling streets of the city, GRT grew into a beloved retail destination that customers simply call 'GRT'. The company is today run by the founder's sons, Managing Directors G.R. Ananthapadmanabhan and G.R. Radhakrishnan, and operates as GRT Jewellers India Private Limited. GRT's core business is the retail of gold, diamond and precious-stone jewellery. Its product range spans traditional South Indian bridal and temple-inspired designs as well as contemporary fashion lines. Named collections such as Dream Bloom, Fashion Fast Forward, Laya and Mayuri (inspired by the peacock) illustrate the brand's dual focus on heritage craftsmanship and modern styling. The company emphasises trust and purity, advertising BIS-hallmark jewellery, certified diamonds and free shipping and delivery, and it maintains a live gold-rate display on its website. By the mid-2020s GRT reported 65 stores across India plus one in Singapore, making it a pan-Indian retailer with a particularly strong base in South India. Its e-commerce site, grtjewels.com, offers online gold jewellery shopping, virtual shopping assistance and a mobile app, extending the brand beyond physical showrooms. Beyond jewellery, the GRT name has been extended into hospitality. Under the banner 'GRT – The promise of more', the group launched GRT Hotels and Resorts, a chain of premium stays with 16 exclusive locations across South India. The group also engages in corporate sales and runs CSR and education initiatives, including scholarships for students from economically challenging backgrounds and contributions to state relief funds. GRT positions itself on customer satisfaction, purity and design creativity, describing every piece as a work of art and every customer as part of its legacy. It remains a privately held, family-controlled business and a prominent name in India's organised jewellery retail landscape.

GRT Jewellers traces its origins to 1964, when Shri G. Rajendran founded the business in the bustling streets of Madras, the city now known as Chennai. The firm took its name from the founder's initials — G. R. Thanga Maligai, with 'Thanga Maligai' meaning 'gold palace' in Tamil — and quickly became a familiar presence in the city's jewellery trade. Customers shortened the name to 'GRT', the identity under which the brand is best known today. For decades the company operated as a family-run jewellery retailer, building its reputation on the purity of its gold and the trust of its clientele. The business remained under the control of the founding family; today it is led by the founder's sons, G.R. Ananthapadmanabhan and G.R. Radhakrishnan, who serve as Managing Directors and have guided its expansion from a regional name into a national one. As India's organised jewellery market grew, GRT expanded its store network well beyond Tamil Nadu. By the mid-2020s the company reported 65 stores across India together with one international store in Singapore, giving it a presence in multiple Indian states and an overseas footprint. Alongside physical retail, GRT developed an online channel at grtjewels.com, offering online gold jewellery shopping, virtual shopping assistance and a mobile app, and it displays live gold rates to customers. The brand's product strategy has evolved to serve both traditional and modern tastes. Collections such as Dream Bloom, Fashion Fast Forward, Laya and Mayuri reflect an effort to blend contemporary forms and detailing with the traditional artistry for which South Indian jewellers are known. GRT markets its jewellery as BIS-hallmarked, with certified diamonds and free shipping and delivery. Diversification followed the jewellery business. Under the theme 'GRT – The promise of more', the group entered hospitality with GRT Hotels and Resorts, a chain of premium properties with 16 exclusive locations across South India. The group also pursues corporate sales and community initiatives. Its CSR activities have included scholarships totalling ₹1.37 crore granted to 264 students from economically challenging backgrounds, and contributions of ₹25 lakh each to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the Covid-19 pandemic. GRT remains a privately held, family-controlled enterprise operating as GRT Jewellers India Private Limited. Its history reflects a common trajectory in Indian jewellery retail: a trusted regional gold merchant that leveraged family stewardship, hallmarking and modern retail formats to become a nationally recognised brand.

• 1964

  Shri G. Rajendran founds GRT Jewellers (G. R. Thanga Maligai) in Madras (now Chennai).

• G.R. Ananthapadmanabhan and G.R. Radhakrishnan, sons of the founder, become Managing Directors.

• GRT expands to 65 stores across India plus one store in Singapore.

• GRT launches GRT Hotels and Resorts with 16 locations across South India.

• GRT grants ₹1.37 crore in scholarships to 264 students from economically challenging backgrounds.

• GRT contributes ₹25 lakh each to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trusted, family-run Indian jewellery retailer combining traditional craftsmanship with modern design; emphasises purity (BIS hallmark), certified diamonds and customer satisfaction.

• Dream Bloom

  A collection celebrating delicate floral beauty through feminine designs, fresh elegance and timeless charm.

• Fashion Fast Forward

  A collection blending contemporary forms with modern detailing for effortlessly stylish jewellery.

• Laya

  A collection celebrating effortless elegance with graceful forms and delicate detailing.

• Mayuri

  A collection inspired by the graceful peacock, capturing nature's beauty through intricate detailing.

1. 1GRT Jewellers official websitegrtjewels.com
2. 2Our Story | GRT Jewellers Private Limitedgrtjewels.com
3. 3About GRT | GRT Jewellers Private Limitedgrtjewels.com
4. 4GRT-The promise of more | GRT Jewellers Private Limitedgrtjewels.com
5. 5G. R. Thanga Maligai on Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6GRT Jewellers | Jewellery India | Indian Jewellery Onlinegrtjewels.com
7. 7Our Story | GRT Jewellers Private Limited.grtjewels.com
8. 8About GRT | GRT Jewellers Private Limited.grtjewels.com
9. 9GRT-The promise of more | GRT Jewellers Private Limited.grtjewels.com