Cherusseri Namboothiri was a 15th-century Malayalam poet who belonged to Kolathunadu, in present-day North Malabar region of Kerala.
He was a court poet of Udaya Varma (1446–1475) and the author of Krishna Gadha, a poem which is considered a landmark in the development of Malayalam literature.
However, according to T. K. Balakrishnan Nair, there were 12 cheris in Kolathnadu and the smallest of them was called Cheru-Cheri (Cheru-small; Cheri-an extent of a place) which has finally taken the form of Cherusseri.
A few lines in the opening stanzas of Krishna Gadha clarify that he was a court poet in the palace of the king Udaya Varma, who then ruled Kolathunadu: Malayalam: "Paalaazhi maaruthan paalichchu porunna Kolathu Nathan Udayavarman Aajnaye cholliyaal ajnanaayullava njaan Praajnaayingane bhaavichchappol" (When the king who rules the Kolath dhesam commands, the ignorant me pretend to be a talented one).
Cherusseri's importance lies in his clear inclination towards native tongue, by which his poetry became popular among the people of Kerala.
Feelings of passion, devotion, humor, and warmth are all discovered at a superior level, singly in a natural style and with equal measure.