His second novel, "Bhranthalayam" ("The Mad House"; 1949), was novel based on the tragedy of partition of the nation and showed Kesavadev as a humanist. "Rowdy", his next novel, was published in 1958, which was based on the story of an abused orphan, taking to arms in defense against the community, narrated in a sarcastic style. K. S. Sethumadhavan's 1966 film, Rowdy was based on this novel. "Ayalkar" ("The Neighbours"), published in 1963, is considered by many as his masterpiece. This novel is acclaimed as the chronicle of the evolution of the three leading communities of the State of Kerala, the Nairs, Christians and Ezhavas from the days of feudalism to the post independent era. Writing about the tragedy of the disintegration of the two major tharavads – Mangalassery and Pachazhi, Kesavadev recreates their past and also narrates the trials and tribulations paving the way for their total destruction as well as the history of the state for a period of about fifty years from the times of feudalism to the rise of the new era. The novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award.