Arakkal was from Chavakkad, Kerala. Both his parents died when he was young. Leaving the comforts of his house behind, he left for Bangalore, lonely but with a passion to become a painter. The hardships that he faced at Bangalore honed the artist in him and sharpened his sensibility. Yusuf Arakkal's early paintings were studies in abstract of the lives of the city dwellers. He used a profusion of bright colors to depict their situation. His paintings are singularly expressionistic in style. In them one could trace the artist's "deep concern for man and society. Set against a dark, oppressive background are the faceless figures of ordinary people expressing brooding loneliness and despair brought on by a society obsessively drawn towards material success where ordinary people have no place". He has done many works in different media, canvases, and sculptures with emphasis on tiger conservation. Arakkal died in Bangalore on 4 October 2016 at the age of 70 EDUCATION: He took a diploma in painting from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat (KCP), Bangalore and later specialized in graphic print making from National Academy community studios, Garhi, Delhi EXHIBITION: He has held over 38 shows in Bangalore, Madras, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Mumbai and New Delhi. Internationally he has shown his works in London, France, New York, Honk Kong and Singapore. He has conducted many exhibitions, both solo and group shows, internationally besides more than thirty national shows.