Malar Manjam was the second novel of Thi. Janakiraman, who has been praised as one of the greatest Tamil writers. Like his debut, this novel was also published as a series in Sudesamithran weekly magazine. This novel brought him to the attention of many readers, with his fascination with human drama and relentless discourse on male-female relationships. With themes like polygamy and unorthodox love, it was much talked about following its publication, and is still relevant today. A man searches for solace in spirituality, burdened by his four marriages. A woman, born out of one of those relationships, calmly establishes her rights, a beautiful novel is woven out of this narrative threads. The novel's contemporariness lies with the character of Pali, who struggles and chooses between a person of her choice and an arranged marriage. In a way, breaking the traditions of her time, Pali paved the way for Thi. Janakiraman's much-beloved women characters to come.