Born in 1935 in Attingal, Kerala, A. Ramachandran graduated with a degree in Malayalam literature from Kerala University before pursuing a diploma in fine arts and crafts from Kala Bhavan, Visva University, at Santiniketan.

Deeply influenced by Indian classical art and Nandalal Bose in particular, Ramachandran was a master of Indian aesthetics by painting archetypal Indian imagery and socio-political symbols in a modernist vein. As a student at Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, Ramachandran studied art under masters like Ramkinkar Baij and Benodebehari Mukherjee. The cultural and intellectual milieu of Santiniketan drew him closer to the art traditions of India and other eastern civilizations, and it is here that he began his lifelong research on the mural painting tradition of temples in Kerala. Ramachandran initially painted in an expressionistic style that reflected the angst of urban life, particularly the suffering he saw when visiting the city of Kolkata, but by the 1980s his style underwent a vital change. From urban reality, he shifted his focus towards tribal community life, especially the tribes from Rajasthan, whose lives and culture gripped his imagination. Decorative elements, dramatic ambiences and myths have become an integral part of his work along with his powerful line and a greater understanding of colour and form.

The artist passed away in 2024.