The glorious history of Naina Rice Mill dates back to 1960. Our grandfather Mr. Krishnan, the founder of the Mill - affectionately known as Naina by many – had a very humble origin. Being born into a poor family that eked out a living in a small palm leaf-thatched hut, he knew that hard work alone could be his investment to success. He started very early in his life as a rice farmer. As an agriculturist, he had gained an intuitive knowledge about the different forms of rice, their growing conditions, etc. After having acquired the knowledge and mastered the skills of the field over a decade, he went on to join a local mill. He was soon identified to be the lead operator in the milling process because of his superior quality-checking skills. In the 1960s, when there was limited technological support to make moisture-based assessment of paddy, he would so causally identify the best quality grain by just feeling with his hands.

Very soon, he started out his own venture in rice vending business. He used to cycle 15 miles to Vellalagundam - a place of his choice for meeting paddy merchants and procuring high quality grains. Accompanied by his childhood friend Mr. Pachiappan, he would procure 75 kgs of paddy for Rs 25 then. Quality was always his prime concern and he never compromised on it. He used to soak the purchased paddy in mud pots for 15 hours and then boil in brass vessels for an hour. Later the paddy was dried in his 10 x 10 metre hut. The remaining grains, for want of space, had to be dried on the roadside. He used to guard it till the end of the day, with only a small interval of 15 minutes for a modest lunch. In the evening, he used to collect the dried paddy and with the help of a nearby huller, get the bran separated. What resulted after the process was 35 kg of rice.

Ably supported by his wife Kamalam, he used to sieve and ensure that every single stone was removed. Late into the night, the couple would fill the rice in 30 measurable pots, each weighing 270 gms. He would wake up very early, load his bi-cycle with rice pots, pedal to the market before the crack of the dawn, and sell all the 30 pots of rice during the day. Each unit used to be sold for Rs.10 only.

Around the 1970s, Mr. Balakrishnan, with his knowledge of paddy grinding process, joined the team. The trio comprising Krishnan, Pachiyappan and Balakrishnan would purchase 10 sacks of quality paddy (75 kgs each), divide into three shares, and gleefully challenge each other about who would sell it all first. Our Grandfather's produce often got the demand and he used to close sales in just an hour.

Kitchadi Samba, Pulidhi Kar and Matta Kar were some of the rice varieties he specialized in. Over the years, as Kitchadi Sambha sowing came down, he quickly recognized that Ponni with its thin, long grain and unbeatable taste would become a favourite amongst the public. As expected, the market for Ponni rice boomed. With his rich experience, business acumen and people-friendly approach, the public started associating Naina's Rice with quality. Looking at the public reception, Mr Krishnan, a humble man with no business or trading background, got the confidence to start this Naina Rice Mill, way back in 1985. It was built with his hard-earned money of Rs. 3 lakhs. Nestled in the sylvan settings of Ayodhiyapattinam village in Salem District of Tamilnadu, the mill has over the years become a hotspot for rice business.

Naina Rice Mill has seen the evolution of the rice industry in India. Today, the mill can boast of state-of-the-art machinery in the rice business, strong links with key paddy sellers and the trust of a wider circle of consumers. But we know that our success lies in pursuing our grandfather Mr Krishnan's vision - prioritize customer's needs, stick to rigorous quality checks, and serve the best of best rice!