MT Vasudevan Nair: A life that touched Malayalam literature and cinema

MT Vasudevan Nair File. | Photo Credit: Saju John

Madath Thekkeppat Vasudevan Nair (MT) was born in Koodallur village in the old Ponnani Taluk of Malabar District, which was part of the British Madras Presidency, on July 15, 1933. His father, T. Narayanan Nair, worked together. tea plantation company in then Ceylon, and mother, Ammaluamma, was a homemaker. MT was their youngest child.

He spent most of his childhood in his father’s villages, Kudallur and Punnayurkulam. MT did his schooling at Malamakkavu Elementary School and later at Kumaranallur High School and completed his graduation in Chemistry from Government Victoria College, Palakkad in 1953.

He worked as a temporary teacher in schools run by the then Malabar District Education Board at Pattambi and Chavakkad and also worked at the MB Tutorial, Palakkad. homeland Weekly as a sub-editor in Kozhikode in 1956. He later served as its editor, nurturing many future writers in Malayalam such as Poonathil Kunjabadulla and NS Madhavan.

When did MT’s first break in literature occur? ValarthumrigangalOne of his short stories written during college, set against the background of circus, won the first prize in a competition organized by him. New York Herald Tribune, Motherland, and Hindustan Times. do not hideHis first major work, published in 1958 which dealt with the eccentric paternal Nair feudal family system, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Novel. In 1970, Kalam Won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Novel. Gopuranadayil Won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama in 1982, and Swargam thurakunna samayamFor best short story in 1986. RandamuzhamThe mythological novel revolving around Bhima won the Vylar Award in 1985. Some of his other major works include ManjuA novel, and Asuravithu, and ArabipponnuWritten like NP Mohammad and notable short stories Kuttiyadathi, Varikkuzhi, Pathanam, Ninte Ormakku, Vanaprasthamand Sherlock.

MT’s foray into films came when he wrote the screenplay Murappenu (1965), based on one of his short stories. This was followed by a string of critically acclaimed and popular films like Vadakkan epic, always, result, Olavham Theravam, Oppoland Perumthachanwhich won state and national awards in the best screenplay and best film categories. The films directed by him are national award winners nirmalyam (1973), bond (1978), tighten up (1991), and Oru Cherupunchiri (2000).

Featuring a collection of essays by MT Kathikante art, Hemingway: Oru Mukhavura, Kathikante Panipuraand Kannanthalippukalude Kalam. His journey is titled Alakkuttathil Thaniye. Manikyakkallu, Thantrakkari and Daya Anna Penkutty His novels are written for children.

MT was awarded the Jnanpith Award in 1995, the Ejuthachan Award of the Government of Kerala in 2011 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. The University of Calicut and the Mahatma Gandhi University awarded him Doctor of Letters degrees.

MT was first married to writer and translator Pramila Nair, with whom he has a daughter, Sitara, a professional businessman in the United States. They later separated. He then married actor Kalamandalam Saraswathi. His second daughter Aswati is a dancer. MT lived in Kozhikode since his admission homeland As a journalist.

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