Jayan was a leading actor of the Malayalam film industry in the 1970s. He catapulted to fame in "macho man" roles that endeared him to the masses, and he deposed Prem Nazir to became the most popular Malayalam film actor of his time.

On November 18, 1980, at the height of his popularity, he died in an accident on the sets of a movie called Kolliilakkam. Jayan always insisted on doing his own stunts, and for this movie he was performing a particularly dangerous stunt of boarding an airborne helicopter. There have been many conspiracy theories regarding the circumstances of his death. However, it is generally believed that he fell of the helicopter.

Jayan was very different from the typical Malayalam film star in the sense that he had a good physique that befitted an action hero.It was this combination of his "macho" image and the nature of his death that turned him into something of a legend.

In the late 90's and the early part of the 21st century, there was a resurgence in the popularity of Jayan. A whole new generation of people (mainly teenagers) developed a Jayan "fad" and his old movie came into prominence again.

Jayan was known for (apart from his physique) for having a very different and unique method of dialogue delivery and he has contributed many memorable film dialogues to the malayalam film history. His dressing sense, mannerisms and unique manner of speaking was extensively imbibed by teenagers and the college-going crowd starting from the late 90's.