[3] The theme of the novel, focuses on the love between Basheer, a prisoner, and a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the novel.

[4] In Mathilukal, though the broad frame is autobiographical and the narration is first person, the details seem to contain sprinkles of fantasy.

[5] In 1989, a film adaptation of the novel was released, starring Mammootty as Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and K.P.A.C Lalitha as Narayani (voice only), and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

The film was a major critical success, and gained many awards at national and international levels.

Mammootty won the National Film Award for Best Actor.