In the early decades (1950s-1970s), films like Neelakuyil (The Blue Cuckoo, 1954) dared to touch the "untouchability" of the Pulaya community, but it was largely through a reformist, upper-caste lens. The real reckoning came with the "new wave" or Puthu Tharangam of the 1970s and 80s. Directors like John Abraham, Padmarajan, and Bharathan turned the camera inward—into the tharavadu (ancestral home).
Due to her frequent portrayal of bold characters, her name is often associated with "B-grade" or "glamour" searches by fans of vintage South Indian cinema. However, industry retrospectives often highlight her as a "victim of typecasting" who was actually a talented performer hampered by the roles available at the time. Karimpana In the early decades (1950s-1970s), films like Neelakuyil