[6] His brother, R. L. V. Ramakrishnan acted in Bamboo Boys in a cameo role, starring alongside Cochin Haneefa, Harisree Ashokan and Salim Kumar.

He did some notable roles in movies such as Dilliwala Rajakumaran, Manthra Mothiram, Gajaraja Manthram, Katha Nayakan, Mayaponman and Kottappurathe Koottukudumbam.

However his performance as villain was first noted in the movie Rakshasa Rajavu (2001), where he played the role of a crooked corrupt politician called Gunasekharan.

After the comedy movies Kuberan and Bamboo Boys, both of them released in 2002, Mani almost shifted his complete focus on doing character and villain roles.

Mani's performance as Chemban Gurukkal, the blind master martial artist, in Ananthabhadram (2005) received high appreciation.

[13] The success of Ben Johnson saw Mani playing the similar hero roles in movies such as Lokanathan IAS, Chacko Randaaman, Kisan, Payum Puli, Red Salute etc.

He grabbed everyone's attention in the Tamil film industry as the villain in the movie Gemini (2002), which featured Vikram in the lead role.

Along with his acting career, Mani established a parallel industry of Nadan Pattu (folk songs), by selling a record number of releases.

As a fund-raiser and performer, he also had contributed money to the local festivals of the religious organisations and provided funds to the schools in his village.

[23][24] The police registered a case as Manner of death due to the presence of excessive Methanol (a toxic chemical found in illicit liquor, Arrack) with Paracetamol in Kalabhavan Mani's body.

However, Mani in his phase of depression and informed of severe liver damage conditions, ignored the doctors' warnings and continued with alcoholism.

[26][27] His unexpected death led to a case by his friends and family which has been filed for investigation through Kochi City Police.

Under RLV Ramakrishnan's suspicion Mani's three close friends have been taken into custody for questioning to rule out activities of vested interest.

[29][30][31][32] On 11 June 2016, based on the recommendation of the state DGP, the Government of Kerala has decided the case to be investigated by CBI.

[33] In May 2017 CBI took over the case and submitted FIR in which it was stated that the death of Kalabhavan Mani was due to unusual reasons.

The Mollywood film fraternity and thousands of fans of late actor Kalabhavan Mani paid homage to the versatile artiste during a memorial service on 13 March 2016, at Carmel Higher Secondary School in Chalakudy organised by well-wishers.

[39] Mani and his friends had been on a trip to the tourist place when forest officials intervened and said they wanted to search his vehicle.

[42] During an interview at Kairali channel, Mani said that jealousy had caused the officials registering the false case against him and the police officer who beat him had a criminal background of four charges.