The Abyss by B. Jeyamohan (Translated by Suchitra Ramachandran)

Pothivelu Pandaram is renowned as a prosperous and devout man in his community - he has a faithful wife, three daughters, and abundant wealth to offer for their marriages. However, his success is fueled by a distasteful but highly profitable business - he owns a group of physically disabled beggars whom he stations outside various temples to generate income for him. To Pandaram, these beggars are mere "possessions," hardly human, to be bought and traded like livestock. But when the novel delves into their world - the "abyss" - and immerses the reader in their midst, it takes a remarkable, unexpected turn. Bitter, sullen, and gritty yet laced with humor and compassion, The Abyss (Ezhaam Ulagam) is one of the most acclaimed works of the esteemed Tamil author Jeyamohan. It was later adapted into the award-winning film Naan Kadavul (I am God) in 2009, which