Born in Kannadikkal in Kozhikode as the son of Kunnummal Krishnan and Lakshmi, Ravindran studied at Kozhikode Malabar Christian School, Malabar Christian College, and did a journalism course at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.

[1] As a writer, he is best known for his travelogues like Swiss Sketchukal, Akalangalile Manushyar and Buddha Patham.

[7] His visual travelogue serial entitled Ente Keralam was telecast in Asianet for many years.

Chintha Ravi died on 4 July 2011, aged 65, at a private hospital in Thrissur.

[1][3][8][9] He is survived by wife N Chandrika, daughter of writer Devaki Nilayangode, and son Thathagathan, an anthropology research scholar in the University of Texas.