His best known works include Paavangal, a translation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and the elegy Kannuneerthulli.

Later he developed strong interest in Indian philosophy and religion and was influenced by the ideas of Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda.

Paavangal, a translation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, was a milestone in the history of Malayalam literature and it set off a social reformation of sorts in Kerala.

Literary critic M. Leelavathy notes: "The translation was an extraordinary phenomenon as it prepared the ground for the Communist movement to take roots in Kerala.

With its philosophy of human equality, the heart-wrenching tale of the oppressed left a profound impact in our society.