[1][2][3] Known for working on small budgets, his films are expositions of local Kerala culture and studies on human nature.
[13] A satire exploring aspects of human character and set at a funeral, Shavam was well received in international film festivals, and garnered positive responses locally as well.
[23] In 2020, Palathara made the film Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam, featuring Rima Kallingal and Jitin Puthanchery, which is about an 85-min single-take car ride taken by a young journalist and an aspiring actor.
[27][28] In 2023, he made Family, which stars Vinay Forrt, Divya Prabha, Nilja K Baby, Mathew Thomas, Sajitha Madathil etc.
[29] In 2023, BAFTA honoured Palathara along with nine other film professionals by selecting them for the breakthrough program in India.