His father, Kumaran Nair worked in the Police department and also as a visha vaidyan (venom doctor).
After his father received transfer to Parambikulam, Chandrakumar took the job as a visha vaidyan when he was yet to turn 14 years.
Vasu identified Chandrakaumar as the Kathakali performer he saw at the Kollengode Palace and invited him to film industry.
He debuted as a director at the age of 19 with the 1977 black and white film Manassoru Mayil which was a moderate box office success.
[2][3] He is married to Private Hospital Nurse Telugu Lady Jayanthi and the couple has two children—Kiran Kumar and Karishma.