He also worked as a journalist in Kumudam, Ananda Vikatan and Kungumam.

In 1961, he published his first short story Enna ulagamada in the magazine Bharani.

His works have been translated into Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, German, French, English and Swedish.

His play Muttai is part of the curriculum in Delhi University and his short story collection Netrru Manidhargal is a textbook in many colleges.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer (Squamous cell carcinoma), for which he underwent palliative chemotherapy from Manakula Vinayagar Medical College & Hospital under the department of pulmonary medicine and oncology.