Pottekkatt published his first story, "Rajaneethi", in the college magazine of
Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College in 1928. "Makane Konna Madyam" (poem published in
Athmavidya Kahalam) and "Hindu Muslim Maithri" (story published in
Deepam) were some of his notable early works. The story "Vydyutha Shakthi" came in the February 1934 issue of
Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly. He wrote his first novel,
Naadanpremam, a romantic story set in
Mukkam, a small hamlet in
Kozhikode district, in 1939 while he was in Bombay and the novel was eventually published in 1941. This was followed by
Yavanikakku Pinnil, a short story anthology, and the second novel
Vishakanyaka; the latter would receive a prize from the
Madras government in 1949. He published
Oru Theruvinte Katha in 1960 and his magnum opus,
Oru Desathinte Katha, in 1971. Pottekkatt was a writer of strong social commitment and ideals, possessing an individualistic vision. and its most notable practitioner in
Malayalam literature which earned him the moniker, the
John Gunther of Malayalam. Poetry anthologies like
Sanchariyude Geethangal and
Premashilpi,
Achan (play), novels like
Premashiksha and
Moodupadam, short story anthologies such as
Nishagandhi,
Pulliman and
Chandrakatham, travelogues viz.
Simhabhoomi,
Nile Diary and
Pathira Sooryante Nattil as well as memoirs like
Ponthakkadukal and
Samsarikkunna Diarykurippukal are some of his other major works. His works have been translated into English, Italian, Russian, German and Czech, besides all major Indian languages.
Moodupadam,
Pulliman and
Njavalppazhangal are some of them.
Kadavu, a 1991 film written directed by
M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on his short story "Kadathuthoni", received prizes at several international film festivals. The 2015 film
Manikyam was an adaptation of the novel
Prema Shiksha. == Political career ==