A. Ramachandran (b. 1935), born Achutan Ramachandran Nair in the serene town of Attingal, Kerala, is one of India’s most distinguished painters and art educators. Over the decades, his profound contributions to Indian art, ranging from monumental murals to deeply symbolic paintings inspired by folk and tribal traditions, have cemented his legacy as a visionary modernist.

Ramachandran was elected a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi in 2002, one of the highest honors conferred by India’s national academy of art. In 2005, he received the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian art and culture. His achievements were further recognized in 2013 with an honorary doctorate from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. 

Through his work, A. Ramachandran continues to inspire generations of artists, combining deep-rooted Indian aesthetics with a contemporary sensibility.