He was the Elaya Raja (crown prince) until his brother Midukkan Thampuran died on 13 October 1943.
He was known for his spirit of equality, and the way he got along with the common people despite the vast economic inequality prevailing in those times.
A very well educated man for his time, he was fluent in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Sanskrit and to some extent Urdu.
Maharaja Ravi Varma died of natural causes in 1946 at the age of 81 years (Makara 18th, 1121 M.E), in Tripunithura.
His Maternal Cousin, Maharaja Sri Kerala Varma, popularly known as Ikyakeralam Thampuran ascended to the throne after his death.