In 2006, Madhavan published has written two plays, "Rayum Mayum" and "Arbhudhavaidyan", published together as a book, "Randu Natakangal", in 2006. His novel "Lanthanbatheriyile Luthiniyakal" was translated into English by Rajesh Rajamohan under the title "Litanies of Dutch Battery" and published in October 2010 by Penguin Books. The work was the winner of the 2010 Crossword Book Award (Indian language translations) and featured in the Man Asian Literary Prize long list and the 2011 The Hindu Literary Prize short list. "Kaya Taran", the 2004 Hindi movie by Sashi Kumar, is based on When Big Trees Fall, a short story by Madhavan about the homicidal attacks on the Sikhs that followed the Assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Indian Prime Minister. He also edited one book, "Malayala Kathakal", composed of 60 short stories by various writers.