He began his career as N V Sankaran, a reporter,  in the Indian Express, Chennai. The journalist who had a deep passion for Tamil literature and theatre began to write under the pen name Gnani and soon was fondly known by the same name across the literary, journalism and theatre circle.

Gnani launched his own publication called Dheem Dhari Kita, and kept it alive despite the lack of funds and support. As a writer, he was known to be fearlesss and was ready to fight with his might of pen for a right cause.

He had also worked for the welfare of journalists as an office-bearer of the Madras Reporters Guild. 

The entire fraternity of journalist and media mourned the demise of a fearless and courageous person.