Aravindan was born at Vadavucode in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, as the eldest son of Thanattu Ayyappan and Ponnamma.

[5] He had his primary education from St. Antony's High School, Mala, where his mother was a music teacher.

Later, he moved into acting and started performing in professional stage plays of Kottayam National Theaters, Nadakashala, Suryasoma Theatres etc.

He has won Kerala State Nataka Academy's Best Actor award for his role in Sooryasoma's play Nidhi.

During the initial stages of his career, the Mala-Pappu-Jagathy trio was a guaranteed crowd-puller among Malayalam film audiences.

[10] Mala was well known for his different acting techniques which included gestures, vocal variations and his unique laughing style.

He also sang the popular song "Neeyarinjo Melemanathu" along with Mohanlal in the 1985 movie Kandu Kandarinju.

His memorable characters are from the movies Bhoothakannadi, Sallapam, Thaaravu, Mimics Parade, Kanmadam, Joker, Meesha Madhavan etc.