Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri was born on Jan 1, 1955 in Kolpuram Illam, Kuruvattoor, and Kozhikode Taluk. He learned Kathakali from 1972 to 1983 in Kerala Kalamandalam and was awarded Central Govt. Scholarship and continued his higher studies in Kerala Kalamandalam from 1983 to 1985. He practised Kathakali under many famous teachers namely Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, Vazhenkata Vijayan, Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharodi and Kalamandalam M.P.S. Namboodiri.

He has also practised the "Thekkan Kathakali" (South Kerala style) from Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai and Kalamandalam Rajasekharan. He has performed Kathakali in many stages all around India and in foreign countries. His expertise is in "Minukku" characters, but now doing "Pacha", "Kathi", "Thadi" characters also. He has also directed the Kathakali "Sreekrishnaavatharam" which is written by Nalloorpalli Vamanan Namboodiri and performed in many stages. Now he is working on "Kirathasoonucharitham" Kathakali, which is written by Kottarathil Sankunni.