Murali portrayed several roles. His greatest asset was his voice.

Murali had won the Kerala State Film Award for best actor twice and a national award for best actor in 2002 for the film 'Neythukaran' directed by Priyanandanan, which also won him his second state best actor award.

Some of his other notable films include 'Nee Ethra Dhanya', 'Dhanam', 'The King', 'Veeralippattu', 'Achan Kombathu Amma Varambathu', 'Meenamasathile Sooryan', 'Swarnam', and 'The Truth'.

His closeness with the Communist Party fo India-Marxist saw him being fielded by the party in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Alappuzha, but he lost to Congress veteran V.M. Sudheeran.

Soon after the CPI-M backed Kairali TV channel was launched in the late 90s, Murali was a member of the director board that ran the channel.

The funeral will take place at Aruvikara near here Friday evening. His body has been kept at the VJT hall before the last rites for the general public to pay their last respects.