One of the pioneers of literary criticism in Malayalam, he wrote more than 25 books which include Panchananante Vimarssthrayam, a critique of the writings of Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, Cherusseri Namboothiri and Kunchan Nambiar and two books on Malayalam grammar, Leghuvyakaranam and Vyakarana Pravesika.

[citation needed] After practicing law in Kottayam, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapram, he became a judge of the High Court of Kerala in 1929.

When Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad was established in Kochi, he was selected as its founder president.

[citation needed] Panchananante Vimarsathrayam, a critique on the writings of Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan,[2] Cherusseri Namboothiri[3] and Kunchan Nambiar was one of his major works and the book was published by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

[10] T. N. Gopinathan Nair, a noted dramatist, was his son, and Ravi Vallathol, a popular film and television actor, was his grandson.