He was born in 1936, as a member of the Kochi Dynasty. He received his training in Kathakali, from Kerala Kalamandalam and has written a book Aalukal Arangukal, in which, the lives of Kathakali artists are depicted.[1]
He has acted in more than fifty films, including several telefilms and serials.[1] Some of his notable films are Mookkilla Rajyathu, Ulladakkam, God Father, Oridathu, Kalyana Raman and Ivory Merchant. He has also acted in a Hollywood film, Cotton Mary, which was directed by Ismail Merchant.
He was a follower of CPM and had written an Attakatha `Kurukshethra' for the sake of the party.[2]
Thampuran died on 24 August, 2010. He was survived by his wife Sathi Varma who is the manager of Kathakali Kendram, son R. V. Vasudevan and daughter Suma Varma.[3][4]
