Somayajulu was well known for his portrayal of 'Sankara Sastry' in the movie 'Sankarabharanam'. This movie fought against the influence of Western music on Carnatic music. It further advocated that classical music does not belong to the upper classes alone and can be passed on from a Guru to a deserving sishya, irrespective of caste or creed.

Somayajulu was also a stage actor and for many years portrayed the character of 'Ramappantulu' in a path breaking drama 'Kanyasulkam' by the well known writer Gurazada Apparao. His brother J. V. Ramana Murthy, as 'Girisam' the Bohemian teacher, used to support Somayajulu in the play.

Somayajulu also acted in several other socially significant movies like, 'Vamsi Vriksham' which dealt with widow marriage, and 'Saptapadi' dealing with inter-caste marriage in orthodox Brahmin families and in 'Thyagayya'. Somayajulu, is survived by his wife and two sons.