Venkatachalapathy worked in the History Department ofManonmaniam Sundaranar University from 1995 to 2000 and that ofUniversity of Madras from 2000 to 2001. Since June 2001, he has been a faculty member of theMadras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS). His main areas of research are social and cultural history of colonial Tamil Nadu.[1] He is best known for collecting and publishing the works of Tamil writerPudhumaipithan in 2000. In 2000, he published his most noted workAndha kaalathil kaapi illai (Kalachuvadu) in Tamil. Later he published an English Version –In Those Days There Was No Coffee, (Yoda Press, 2006). He currently serves in the advisory board of theTamil iyal virudhu, an annual award given byTamil Literary Garden, a Canada-based organisation.[10] He is regularly involved in 'The Hindu Literary Festival' (The HinduLit for Life) annual events as a speaker, interviewer, resource person etc.[11] He also reviews books inThe Hindu.[12][13] In 2007, he was awarded theV. K. R. V. Rao prize in Social Science Research. He also writes columns forThe Hindu,Frontline,Outlook,India Today,Dinamalar andKalachuvadu magazine.[14][15][16][17][18][19]
(ed.)Pudumaippithan Kathaigal (first volume of chronological and variorum edition of the complete works of Pudumaippithan), Nagercoil (2000)
Andha Kalathil Kappi Illai Muthalana Aaivu Katturaigal (collection of research papers on Tamil cultural history), Nagercoil: Kalachuvadu Pathippagam (2000)
(ed.)Pudumaippithan Katturaigal (second volume of chronological and variorum edition of the complete works of Pudumaippithan), Nagercoil (2002)
Novelum Vasippum: Oru Varalattru Parvai (Early Novels and Reading Practices: A Historical View), Nagercoil (2002).
A.K.Chettiar, Annal Adichuvattil (The making of the documentary, Mahatma Gandhi), Nagercoil: Kalachuvadu Pathippagam (2003).
(ed.)Pudumaippithan Mozhipeyarppukal (third volume of the chronological and variorum edition of the complete works of Pudumaippithan), Nagercoil (2006)
Mucchanthi Ilakkiyam (Popular Literature in Colonial Tamil Nadu), Nagercoil (2004)
^A. R. Venkatachalapathy (30 March 2010)."Understanding Hinduism".The Hindu. Chennai, India.Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved5 April 2010.
