K. Manthri was an Indian cartoonist. He was born in Pandalam, Kerala, in 1933. At the Mavelikkara Ravi Varma School of Arts, he pursued a painting degree. He began creating cartoons for Sarasan in the 1950s, but he primarily created them for Thaniniram Daily. In Asadhu and Narmada, he also published cartoons. Later publications of his writings included Mathrubhumi, Janayugam, Malayala Nadu, Malayala Rajyam, and Manorajyam. Manthri is the creator of well-known cartoon characters, including Pachu, Kovalan, Mr. Kunju, etc. Manthri frequently made appearances in his own cartoons. Manthri had previously worked as a drawing instructor, but he stopped in 1954. He briefly worked for the Calicut newspapers Mathrubhumi and Desabhimani. He continued to draw cartoons while also working for the government's education division. The first animated movie title in Malayalam cinema was created by Manthri. This was the Hariharan-directed film Poocha Sanyasi.