Toms (cartoonist)

V. T. Thomas (6 June 1929 – 27 April 2016), also known as Toms, was a cartoonist from Kerala, India who created the cartoon characters Boban and Molly.

Toms was born to Vaadakkal Thoppil Kunjuthomman Kunjithomman and Sicily Thomas on 6 June 1929 in Kuttanad of Alappuzha district. He completed his graduation from SB College, Changanassery. Later he joined the army as an electrician and left the job soon. He then devoted his career completely for drawing cartoons. His elder brother Peter Thomas was his inspiration behind drawings. Peter was a cartoonist in Shankar's Weekly that time. Toms started his career in 1950 through Sathyadeepam, a Catholic weekly and Kerala Kaumudi. He then joined Malayala Manorama in 1955.

Toms created the character Boban and Molly based on two real life persons of the same name. They were two children from his neighborhood and he discovered them in his 30's. Boban and Molly was first appeared in the cartoon column of Sathyadeepam. Later the characters became more popular through Malayala Manorama. They were first published on 1957. He resigned from Manorama in 1987 and started Toms Publications.

Toms joined Malayala Manorama, as a cartoonist in 1961, and worked there till retiring as an assistant editor in June 1987. After leaving the Malayala Manorama, he started publishing the strip in the magazine Kalakaumudi, against which the Manorama went to court. A local court temporarily restrained Toms and permitted Manorama to continue publication of the Boban and Molly. However, on an appeal, the High Court of Kerala ruled that pursuant to the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, while the ownership of the strips drawn during Toms’ employment with Manorama would continue to be with the publication, Toms was free to own the characters Boban and Molly and could continue to create cartoon strips featuring them and publish them at his will.

Toms also created other characters which appeared along with Boban and Molly, which all represented various personalities and life style of Keralites.

• Vakkeel Pothen
• Appy Hippy
• Ittunnan
• Unnikkuttan
• Kunchukuruppu

A film Bobanum Moliyum based on the characters was released in 1971 directed by J. Sasikumar, starring Madhu and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. In 2006, an animation film was also released.

Autobiography of Toms, titled Ente Bobanum Molliyum was released on 29 December 2015 by actor Mammootty.

Toms was married to Thresiakutty. They have 6 children. Two of them were named Boban and Molly.

He died on 27 April 2016 at SH Medical Centre in Kottayam around 10.45 PM. He was suffering from age related illness.