Shyamaprasad was born on 7 November 1960 in Palakkad, Kerala, and is the younger son of politician O. Rajagopal.

He was named after Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

He studied Theatre Arts at the School of Drama and Fine Arts, Thrissur, before moving abroad for higher studies.

In 1989, he received the Commonwealth Scholarship and completed his Master’s in Media Production at the University of Hull, UK.

During his time in the UK, he gained valuable experience working with BBC and Channel 4, which influenced his filmmaking style.

His directorial debut was Kallu Kondoru Pennu (1998), but Agnisakshi (1999) brought him national recognition, winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.

Shyamaprasad is known for adapting literary works into films, such as Ore Kadal (based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel) and Akale (inspired by Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie).

Apart from directing, he has also acted in several films, showcasing his versatility in front of the camera.

He has won multiple honors, including Kerala State Film Awards, Filmfare Awards South, and the Gollapudi Srinivas Award.

Shyamaprasad is married to Sheeba, and he balances his family life with his creative pursuits.