M. V. Vishnu Namboothiri

Mithale Vattaparam Vishnu Namboothiri was a teacher, folk art researcher and author from Kerala, India. He was considered an authoritative source of information on Theyyam and other traditional art forms of North Malabar. He received several awards including awards from Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Kerala Folklore Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.

Biography Vishnu Namboothiri was born on 25 October 1939 to Mithale Vattaparam Illath Subramanian Namboothiri and Draupadi Antarjanam in Kunnaru, Ramantali in present-day Kannur District of Kerala. After completing his graduation in Malayalam, he started his professional career as a primary teacher in Malayalam and also became a teacher at high school and higher secondary levels.

Career as Folkorist Vishnu Namboothiri has done many years of research on kavus and theyyams and other religious and folk art forms of Kerala. First award of Kerala Folklore Academy for Comprehensive Contribution in folklore textbooks Pattathanam Award 1998 (in recognition of over a quarter of a century of services in the field of folklore studies) S. Guptan Nair Memorial Award 2011 Kadtanath Udayavarmaraja Award 2012 Kalamezhut Study Center Award Vijnanpeeth Award Kerala State Biodiversity Award Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (2015) Senior Fellowship of Department of Culture, Government of India