In the 1980s, Madhavan went through a decade-long period of writer's block, until the release of his story 'Higuita' in 1990. In this work, Madhavan models his protagonist, Father Geevarghese, on René Higuita, the 1990 FIFA World Cup goalkeeper for Colombia and his unconventional playing style whereby he would often abandon his goal and try to score goals, occupies the priest's imagination. Likewise, he temporarily abandons his cassock and saves a tribal girl Lucie from the clutches of the trafficker Jabbar. The short story was rated among the best Malayalam stories in the last century. It has since been adapted into a play, "Higuita: A Goalie’s Anxiety at Penalty Kick", by Sasidharan Naduvil. "Thiruthu", based on the Babri Masjid demolition, "Chulaimedile Shavangal" (Corpses of Chulaimed), "Vanmarangal Veezhumpol" (When the Big Trees Fall), "Paryaya Kathakal" (Synonymous Stories), "Nilavili" (The Cry), Muyal Vetta (Hare Hunt) and "Nalam Lokam" (The Fourth World) are some of his other notable short stories. His stories are known to represent the uncertainties, ambiguities and tragedies of the modern world.