Career

After college, he joined Kalabhavan, a well known professional mimicry troupe. He was introduced into the cinema field by script writer and filmmaker Padmarajan who gave Jayaram his launching pad with the 1988 film Aparan. Padmarajan became his mentor in his film career till the former's death in January, 1991. Jayaram subsequently acted in Padmarajan's Moonnam Pakkam (1988) and Innale (1989). All three of them are considered to be among Padmarajan's masterpieces.
He is noted for playing in Kamal's films during the late 80s and early 90s, in films such as Pradeshika Vaarthakal (1989), Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal (1989), and Shubha Yathra (1990) (all of them scripted by Renjith), where he co-starred with his wife Parvathy. During the early 90s he acted in Bharathan's critically acclaimed Keli (1991) and Malootty (1992) (co-starring with Urvashi).
He is most popular for acting in Sathyan Anthikkad's films. Their first film was Mazhavil Kavadi (1989) where Jayaram played Velayudhankutty. Around that time Jayaram played a supporting role in Anthikkad's Mammootty starred Ardham (1989). Thalayanamanthram (1990) and Sandesham (1991), both co-starring and scripted by Sreenivasan, were commercially and critically acclaimed. They later went on to make Thooval Kottaram (1996), Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997), Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (2000), Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), and Manassinakkare (2003).
He co-starred with Mammootty and Suresh Gopi in Joshi's Dhruvam (1993). Other noted films with Suresh Gopi include Viji Thampi's Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam (1990) (he co-stars with Sreenivasan), Thooval Sparsam (1990) (co-stars with Mukesh and Saikumar), Jayaraj's Paithrukam (1993), and Sibi Malayil's Summer in Bethlehem (1998). He co-starred with Mohanlal in Bharath Gopi's Ulsavapittennu (1989). Jagathy Sreekumar and Jayaram along have created one of the most funniest sequences in Malayalam cinema through a variety of films.
His association with director Rajasenan created many commercially successful movies such as Kadinjool Kalyanam (1991) (co-starring with Urvashi), Ayalathe Addeham (1992), Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993) (along with Shobana), CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. (1994), Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava (1995), Aadyathe Kanmani (1995), Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran(1996), and Kadhanayakan (1997). Another commercial success during the late 90s is his role of Aravindan in Siddique's Freinds (1999), he co-starred with Sreenivasan and Mukesh. In the 2000s decade his more popular films include Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), Manassinakkare (2003), Veruthe Oru Bharya (2008), and Twenty:20 (2008).
His most critically acclaimed roles include his role of Karunakaran in B Kannan's Theerthadanam (2001) (written by M. T.), and Lonappan in Rajeev Kumar's Sesham (2002). He also forayed into Tamil cinema, and became moderately successful. Some of his impressive Tamil films are Gokulam, Purushalakshanam, Priyanka, Kolangal, Murai Mamman and Pathini . His friendship with Kamal Haasan is also famous. His roles as Dr. Kailash and as Mr. Ayyappan Nair in Kamal Haasan starred Thenali and Panchathanthiram are well-appreciated. They first came together on screen in Chanakyan (1989).