[2][3] Nair was educated in Chennai (Madras) before returning to Kerala, where she gained a BA in English Language and Literature.

[4] Nair was working as the creative director of an advertising agency in Bangalore when she wrote her first book, a collection of short stories called Satyr of the Subway, which she sold to Har-Anand Press.

The novel is about women's conditions in a male dominated society, told with great insight, solidarity and humour.

[10] In 2002, her debut collection of poems Malabar Mind was published,[11] and in 2003 Where the Rain is Born – Writings about Kerala which she has edited.

[13] Nair has also written other books, such as Mistress (2003), Adventures of Nonu, the Skating Squirrel (2006), Living Next Door to Alise (2007) and Magical Indian Myths (2008).