Velu Viswandhan was born at Kadavoor in Kollam district as the third son of Palliyavila K Velu Achary and O Nani Ammal. He had his primary schooling at a school, which is at the adjoining compound of his family house, at Kadavoor. Completed his schooling from Neeravil SNDP High School in 1956 and joined for graduation at Sree Narayana College, Quilon.

In 1959 he was expelled from the College for political activities, which really was a turning point of his life. He went to Madras in 1960 and joined Madras School of Arts and studied under the well-known painter KCS Paniker with a scholarship from Kerala University.

It was in Madras he came into contact with with the works of masters of world art like Van Gogh, Goguin, Sezanne, Picasso etc. He was very much influenced by the great masters. Also meeting with poets, writers, intellectuals, theatre persons and film makers like M Govindan, MV Devan, Girish Karnad, Mankata Ravi Varma, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G Aravindan and many has enriched Viswanadhans life.

After taking Diploma in advanced course with mention from Madras School of Arts and Crafts in1966 he participated as a member founding of Cholamandal Artists' Village, Madras.

First solo exhibition was held at the Local Library Building, Madras, in 1966. In 1968, visited Egypt, Lebanon, Greece and traveled Europe with an exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art which was held in Brussels, Amsterdam, Denmark etc. Visit to Paris before returning home offered him a berth at the Mecca of art.

He has also produced three films on Art. Colour and Form (1972), Ezhuthu (1973), Sand (1977), Eau / Ganga (1985), Agni / Feu (1988) and Air / Vayu (1994).

His work is represented in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, National Gallery, Chennai, and CNAC Museum of Modern Art, Paris.