Thambi Ramaiah commenced his journey in the Tamil film industry with a cameo acting role in 'Malabar Police' (1999) and made his directorial debut with 'Manu Needhi' in 2000. While initially focusing on direction and writing, he later transitioned into acting more prominently, achieving critical acclaim and widespread recognition. His breakthrough as an actor came with his performance in Prabhu Solomon's 'Mynaa' (2010), for which he received multiple prestigious awards, including the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Known for his distinctive expressive style, adaptable body language, and natural comedic timing, he has since become a highly sought-after character artist and comedian in Tamil cinema. Besides acting and directing, he has also contributed as a lyricist and singer. Ramaiah is noted for his independent working philosophy, managing his career and schedules without a personal manager or a dedicated costume designer, often drawing inspiration from real-life observations for his characters.