Paravoor Bharathan was an Indian actor of Malayalam films. He started his career in movies during the 1950s. Bharathan is known as a versatile actor and has played a variety of roles including negative roles, character roles and comedy roles.

Bharathan was born to Vadakkekarayil Kochannan Koran and Kurumbakutty in 1928 at Vavakkad, Moothakunnam in North Paravoor, Cochin. He went to S.N.M. High School, Moothakunnam but, had to discontinue his studies when his father died. His father was a coconut plucker and mother was a coir maker. His father died when he was very young and his mother took care of him.