He acted in more than 500 films in a career spanning over five decades.
He had started his career as a dramatist and stage actor and went on to act as a character actor, villainous roles in films.
He has acted along with four generation actors like as M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Jai Shankar, Muthuraman, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth, Mohan, K. Bhagyaraj, Arjun Sarja, Karthik, Prabhu.
Karikol Raju was apt for village character.
his notable movies such as Kadhalikka Neramillai, Madras To Pondichery, Kumari Kottam, Rickshawkaran, Thooral Ninnu Pochu, Kozhi Koovuthu.