After his school days, he went to Swathi Thirunal Music College in Thiruvananthapuram, where he met K. J. Yesudas, and soon began a great friendship.

The great playback singer K. J. Yesudas, a former classmate, altered the course of Raveendran's life by persuading him to compose songs and thus he became a music director.

In the same year he composed music and background score for the movie Chiriyo Chiri directed by Balachandramenon.

In 1982, for his close friend, director P. Venu he dubbed for actor Shankar in his film Aranjyanam and later composed music for his movie Thacholi Thankappan.

A few of Raveendran's best songs were in films like Thenum Vayambum, Chiriyo Chiri, Sukhamo Devi, Aattakalasam, Yuvajanotsavam, Amaram, His Highness Abdullah, Kamaladalam, Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, Champakulam Thachan, Dhanam, Aayirappara, Kalippattam, Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu, Nandanam, Rajashilpi, Bharatham and Aaraam Thampuran.

He also composed songs and background score for 8 Tamil films like Hemavin kadhalargal, Rasigan Oru Rasigai, Kanmaniye pesu, Dharma devathai, Pottu vacha neram, Lakshmi vandhachu, Thaye nee thunai and Malare kurinji malare.

Almost all major lyricists of his era penned lyrics for his songs, like O. N. V. Kurup, Sreekumaran Thampi, Bichu Thirumala, Poovachal Khader, Chunakkara Ramankutty, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, Gireesh Puthenchery, Shibu Chakravarthy, etc.

Some of his light music albums and devotional albums, which were most popular in the 1980s and 1990s through All India Radio and audio cassettes were Tharanginiyude Ulsava Gaanangal (festival songs) (1983, 1985), Vasantha Geethangal (1984), Ponnona Tharangini (1992), Amme Saranam Devi Saranam (1994), Sarana Theertham (1997) and Uthradapoonilave (2001).

In 1978 Raveendran sung a song (sandhya vandana geethikaluyarum sanyasikalude asramavadam) with Yesudas in the movie "AVAKASAM" directed by A B Raj.