Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan was born on Feb 17, 1959. His father is Late Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval and mother is Late Radha Poduvalsiar.

Being a member of a family of musicians, he had the added advantage of obtaining basic lessons of Carnatic Music at the very tender age from his grandmother Late Parvathy (Ammukutty) Poduvalsiar, who herself was a renowned musician of her times. After his primary education, joined Kerala Kalamandalam for learning Kathakali Music (1970-1976). He was then the youngest student to have joined for Kathakali Music and had the privilage to learn under the Great Kathakali Musician of all times, Late Kalamandalam Neelakandhan Nambeesan. Also had opportunity to undergo training and practice under veteran artists in the field viz. Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Subrahmanian Namboothiri (Madambi), Ramankutty Warrier, during his Kathakali Music Course in Kerala Kalamandalam. He had his Gurukulam equivalent to PG and gained stage experience under the able guidance of Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri for over 2 years immediately after the completion of the regular course in Kerala Kalamandalam.

In 1978 at the initiative of Late Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Kurup, Mohan left for Kolkata where he had opportunity to perform on several stages. Later joined Viswa Bharathi University (Sangeeth Bhavan) as an Asst. Lecturer in Kathakali Music. Mohan is one of the rare artists who could render stage performances as main/ supporting singer together with all the top graded artists in the Kathakali field viz. Padmashree Late Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Late Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval, Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval and other eminent artists.

He was invited by Kalamandalam Vijayakumar & Barbara to join the Kathakali troup to the UK on three occassions and he is also given opportunity to conduct/ participate in workshops organized by Center Ocean Stream.