Perumal works as Head and Associate Professor of Tamil Literature at a Government Arts College, Tamil Nadu. He is the author of 11 novels and five collections each of short stories and poems, as well as ten books of non-fiction. Several of his novels, stories and poems have been translated into English, including ‘Seasons of the Palm’, ‘Current Show’, ‘One Part Woman’ and ‘Pyre’. His best-known novel, ‘One Part Woman’, won the prestigious ILF Samanvay Bhasha Samman for writing in Indian languages. His recent novel, ‘Poonachi’, has been shortlisted for several awards including JCB award.