Billava is a Hindu community, originally was a ruling class of South India. The community members are mostly settled in Karnataka and coastal Kerala. They speak Tulu, Kannada or Malayalam. The Billava Grooms actively practiced martial arts and still respects the community tradition. They revere the folk heroes Chennayya and Koti. The community males are working in various professions in the corporate and government sectors. Some common surnames for a Billava Groom are Bangera, Palan and Talwar.