Menon was born in 1929 on 15 February, to Mudavangattil Sankunni Panicker and Chundayil Kalyanikutti Amma, in a family of Kalaripayat experts at
Niramaruthur near
Tirur in present-day
Malappuram district of Kerala. In 1955, family came to
Chavakkad in
Thrissur district. In 1957, the family established a Kalarippayattu school called
Vallabhatta Kalari in Chavakkad. At the age of six, Menon started learning Kalaripayattu from his father Sankunni Panicker. He became a Kalari
gurukkal (teacher) at the age of 16. Unni Gurukkal spread
Kalaripayattu, an
Indian martial art from
Kerala, outside India and started branches of his Kalaripayattu school in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, France and Belgium. His team, which has performed Kalaripayattu in over 50 countries, also performed Kalaripayattu during
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to
Dubai. He died on June 6, 2023.
Personal life His wife Soudamini Amma is from
Malappuram, from the Ozhur Kozhissery Punnakal family. Menon married Saudamini, at the age of 33. Their sons Krishnadas Gurukkal, Rajan Gurukkal and Dineshan Gurukkal are also Kalaripayattu practitioners. He has also a daughter. ==Awards and honors==