M. V. 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 also served as a Sarvavijnanakosam advisory committee member and research guide at Kozhikode, Kaladi, Kannur and MG universities.

[3] Vishnu Namboothiri has done many years of research on kavus and theyyams and other religious and folk art forms of Kerala.

[2] He has authored 69 books in the genre folklore, including Keralathile Nadodi vijnanathinu oru mukhavura (meaning An Introduction to the Folklore of Kerala), Folklore chinthakal, Puravritha padanam (study on myths of Kerala), Namboothiri bhasha shabdakosham (a dictionary on language of Namboothiris), Mukhadarshan, Pulluvanpattum Nagaradhanayum (book on Pulluvan Paattu and snake worship in Kerala), Mandravadavum Mantravadappattum (book on traditional black magic and black magic songs in Kerala), Vannanum konthronpattum (book on folk music of Kerala), Pulayarude pattukal (book on folk songs of Pulayar community in Kerala), Kothamuri, Thottam pattukal oru padanam (a study on Thottam Pattu), Theyyavum thirayum, Theyyam, Nadodivijnjaneeyam, Poorakkali (a study on Poorakkali), Gaveshana Praveshika (meaning research entry), Keralathile Nadan sangeetham (a book on folk music of Kerala), Thottam, Nadanpattu Manjari, Pottanattam, Vivaranathmaka folklore granthasoochi (descriptive folklore bibliography) etc.