[4] Antony was also a respected figure in the professional theatre field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.

Soon he established himself as a prominent figure in Malayalam plays with his skills in acting, writing and direction.

[citation needed] Building on his expertise in stage plays, Antony began his film acting career.

He won the National Film Award for Best Actor (known then, in 1974, as the Bharath Award) for his performance as a velichappadu (an oracle or medium between the Goddess and the worshipper in a Hindu temple) in Nirmalyam, directed by prominent literary figure M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

[8] In a historical drama, Amal Neerad's Iyobinte Pusthakam had the famous director Aashiq Abu playing the role of P. J. Antony, though in a guest appearance.