M.T. Vasudevan Nair: A complete coverage on his life and times

M.T. Vasudevan Nair. File
| Photo Credit: S. Manisha

M.T. Vasudevan Nair, one of India’s greatest writers of all time, died in Kozhikode, Kerala, at a private hospital on December 25, 2024. He was 91.

M.T., who was born at a village called Kudallur, near Ponnani, made a mark as a writer of remarkable skills from an early age. He was just 29 when he wrote Asuravithu, which has been hailed by some, including critic M. Leelavathi, as the best novel in Malayalam.

M.T.’s first break in literature came when Valarthumrigangal, one of his short stories set against the backdrop of a circus written during college days, won the first prize in a competition conducted by the New York Herald Tribune, Mathrubhumi, and Hindustan Times. 

Many of his works were translated into English. M.T. was honoured with the Jnanpith Award in 1995, the Kerala government’s Ezhuthachan Award in 2011, and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. The University of Calicut and the Mahatma Gandhi University have conferred upon him Doctor of Letters degrees.

 In 1970, Kalam won the Sahitya Akademi award for the best novel. Gopuranadayil won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for drama in 1982, and Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam, for the best short story in 1986. Randamoozham, the mythological novel revolving around Bhima, won the Vayalar Award in 1985.

M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s works mirrored the sociopolitical changes and renaissance that Kerala went through.

M.T. was truly multifaceted. He was also a journalist who went on to become the editor of Mathrubhumi Magazine. As an editor, he mentored several young writers.

M.T. was a prolific screenwriter, though a reluctant one, to begin with. He began his career in films with the script of Murappennu. The 1965 film was directed by A. Vincent.

He became a much-in-demand scriptwriter and penned classics such as Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Amrutham Gamaya, Panchagni, Parinayam, Aksharangal, Aalkoottathil Thaniye and Thazhvaram. His last major theatrical release was Pazhassi Raja, in 2013.

This is a compilation of The Hindu’s coverage on M.T. Vasudevan Nair.