International awards

• Special Jury award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Tokyo (1985)
• A five-film retrospective of his films was held in Paris, France, by the Government of France (1985); the only other Indian actors to be awarded this honour are Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Amitabh Bachchan

National awards

• Best actor - Kodiyettam - 1977
• Best film on social issues - Yamanam - 1991
• Best book on cinema - Abhinayam Anubhavam
• Padma Shri - 1991
• V. Shantaram award for the producer of the Best film - Padheyam - 1991

State awards

• Best actor 1977- Kodiyettam
• Best supporting actor - Kallan Pavitran - 1980
• Best actor - Ormakkayi - 1982
• Best actor - Ente Mamattukutti Ammakku, Eenam, Ettillam, Kattaththe Kilikoodu - 1983
• Best actor - Chidambaram - 1985

Regional awards

• Four filmfare awards
• Four critics awards
• Two Gulf Malayali association awards