The cover of the first issue was crafted by Sivan Studios and featured an image of an elderly Namboothiri man holding a traditional palm leaf umbrella.
Senior figures like Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and P. Kesavadev also contributed regularly to Malayalanadu, which gave equal importance to both young and established writers.
Several of his stories, including Pukakkannada, Pathayile Kattu, Ore Chandran, Vanitha and Choondal, alongside the novelette Nanmakalude Suryan and novels such as Rithubhedangalude Parithoshikam and Udakappola, were published in Malayalanadu.
[1] Sethu himself published stories like Satru, Janab Kunhi Moosa Haji, Rogikalude Desam, and his second novel, Nananja Mannu, in Malayalanadu.
[1] Madhavikutty's autobiography, Ente Katha, debuted in the 1971 Onam special edition of Malayalanadu, garnering significant attention and controversy.
A revised English version was serialised in the Bombay-based The Current Weekly, edited by Ayoob Syed, from January to December 1974.
[4][5] Vijayan also wrote several short stories for Malayalanadu, including Nidrayude Thazhvara, Aalmaram, Theeyathikal, Neela Suryan, Abhayam, Kannukalikal, Vridhayum Makanum Kazhuthayum, Poovu, Kattu Murkhan, Desa Sneham and Poocha.
V. K. N. subsequently authored several novels for Malayalanadu, including Kunhan Menon, Syndicate, General Chathans, Pithamahan II, Anusmarana and Payyante First Lady.
It had poems by stalwarts like P. Kunhiraman Nair, Balamani Amma, M. Govindan, Satchidanandan, Balachandran Chullikad, Kunjunni Mash etc.
Sahitya Varaphalam significantly contributed to the exposure of foreign authors and the enhancement of reading standards among Malayalee readers.
He wrote the column Poornatha Thedunna Apoorna Bindukkal for Malayalanadu and also contributed film reviews under the alias Mangalassery.
However, several noted writers refuted Bhasi's arguments as a mere personal attack on the reviewer, and led to a series of subsequent issues addressing the controversy in detail.
[1] Ambalanadayil by Venni Vasupillai was another column that ran for several years, providing detailed insights into various famous temples of Kerala.
This edition featured several renowned stories, including M. T. Vasudevan Nair's Sthalapuranam, Padmarajan's Pukakkannada, M. Mukundan's Mundanam Cheyyappetta Jeevitham and Zachariah's Prapanchathinte Avasishtangal.
[1] S. K. Nair was associated with the Communist Party during his student days and maintained close ties with prominent figures such as E. M. S. Namboodiripad, K. R. Gouri Amma and V. K. Krishna Menon.
[1] Although the magazine abstained from publishing editorials, it made an exception when Azhikodan Raghavan died in 1972, expressing profound grief and anger over his murder.
The recipients included M. T. Vasudevan Nair for the best novel Kaalam, Kadathanat Madhavi Amma for the best poem Kanikkonna, Kakkanadan for the best story Yudhavasanam and N. N. Pillai for the best drama Meherbani.