[1] Gopakumar was born in 1957 in Shuchindram to Vattappallimadam P. Neelakanda Sharma, a Sucheendram Temple Sthanikar, and L. Thankamma.

[3] He began his career with Indian Express and evolved as a journalist through tenures in Mathrubhumi, News Time, The Statesman and The Independent.

During his association with the BBC, he was called in to take charge of the news division in the newly formed Asianet television channel.

He was also one of the favourite choices for mimicry artists in Kerala to imitate, due to his distinctive articulation of words and high bass voice.

as director Gopakumar died in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 30 January 2016 at 3:50 AM, aged 58.