M. Mukundan's novel Mayyazhi Puzhayudae tells the story of the French colony of Mahe in the late 1940s and the local people's struggle for independence. It focuses on the character Dasan, a young rebel who questions his identity and role as he fights for freedom. The story explores the town's folklore and mythology as well as the contrast between the nostalgia of the older generation and the angst of the young rebels. The novel reflects the author's own humanist philosophy and convictions regarding communism.