In 1978, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in M. T. Vasudevan Nair's Bandhanam.

During his tenure teaching English at Scott Christian College in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, Sukumaran got an offer to act in the Malayalam movie Nirmalyam, directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

Thakilu Kottampuram, directed by Balukiriyath was one of his Best films in the 80s, He then went on to act in substantial roles in films such as Avalude Ravukal, Angadi, Bandhanam, Etho Oru Swapnam, Manasa Vacha Karmana, Ahimsha, Spodanam, Shalini Ente Koottukari, Angakkuri, Kolilakkam, Theekkadal, Sandarbam, Witness and Kottayam Kunjachanan.

[7] His role as a defiant police officer in Oru CBI Diary Kurippu and its sequel Jagratha, directed by K. Madhu, was noted for its characterisation and earned cult status when the third sequel in the series, Sethurama Iyer CBI, had Sai Kumar portraying the son of the police officer, with the mannerisms and voice tone of Sukumaran.

One of his productions Irakal, directed by K. G. George, was selected for the Indian Panorama in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

[4] The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) had sidelined and unofficially banned Sukumaran from films for around three years during the mid-90s, for some of the comments he made on the industry and its politics.