The veteran finds it hard to mention any particular comic role has most memorable one but makes special mention of the role of a rickshaw Puller that he played in” DESODDARAKULU “movie 1975. It had ample measure of ‘Karuna Rasa’ in it could display the other shade of his talent. The role became famous for the song” Akali Annam Adigithe Pichchodannaru Nayallu”. An honest rickshaw puller living with his hard earned money. His wife who was a pregnant pass away due to epilepsy during pregnancy. He will get upset, mentally derail and start smiling loudly. Then onwards he starts roaming on the roads and questioning people about the atrocities happening in the society. His questions will be sensible and relevant to the existing situations in the society. He will become popular among the people as a madman. In one situation he sings a song Akali Annam Adigithe Pichchodannaru a very big satire on the prevailing conditions of the society.The intensity of Padmanabhan expressions and lyric was got an amazing response and earned different recognition to Padmanabham rather than a comedian, those days. This particular song took first place among the other songs of the movie and most heard in the public.
He co-founded a Theatre group with his friend Vallam Narasimha Rao, Rekha and Murali Arts with S.P.Kodandapani as their music director. S.P. Balasubramaniam was introduced by this production house through a movie Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna.
Kathanayaki Molla which he directed in 1969 fetched him the Nandi Award.He worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies in his long career.
He produced a movie by name Devata starring N.T.Rama Rao and Savitri which was a blockbuster those days. He had a cordial relation with N.T.R. till his last days.
He paired with Geetanjali in a number of films, this pair got a fame like Relangi and Girija pair of yester years.
