Manoj was born at Kottayam, to chenda exponent Kuroor Cheriya Vasudevan Namboothiri and Sreedevi Andarjanam. He is the grandson of Kathakali artist Kuroor Vasudevan Namboothiri.[1] Manoj learnt Thayambaka and Kathakali melam from his father and then from Aayamkudi Kuttappa Marar. Manoj has been playing chenda for Kathakali since 1989.