He was the eldest son of Mikhael Pothen. After his early home education he joined  S B High School for further studies. He had deep interest in arts. After his education he wished to join movie industry. In those days movies were silent movies  and the producer was a foreigner and  O P Kuruvilla was entrusted with the work of running commentary  of the movie in Malyalam  . But O P Kuruvilla lost his job because the producer of the movie left home for England. During the first World War he got  an agency for distributing rationed rice by the Govt and this agency did not last long since the rice shortage was over. After this venture he opened a foreign liquor shop at Vattappally. This also  had a short life.

 O P Kuruvilla married twice.His first wife belonged to Peediyekal family of Athirampuzha.  He had three daughters  and two sons in his first marriage. After the death  of  his first  wife he  remarried   Mariyamma  of   Valiyaparambil   family, Vettithuruth ,Changanacherry. He had two daughters in the  second marriage. Date of death of these individuals are not known.