Malayalam writer & Jnanpith awardee M.T. Vasudevan Nair passes away

One of the most respected figures in Malayalam literature and cinema Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nair or M T Vasudevan Nair passed away at a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala. He was admitted to the hospital where he was undergoing treatment for heart failure. The Jnanpith awardee was 91 years old. The  Kerala government declared a two-day state mourning as a mark of respect for MT Vasudevan Nair.

He left behind a rich legacy in the fields of literature and film, with a career spanning more than seven decades.

About M T Vasudevan Nair 

Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nair was born in a Nair family in Kudallur village, Palakkad district of Kerala in 1934.

While in college he won the best story award in Malayalam at the World Short Story Competition, conducted by The New York Herald Tribune of the United States.

After graduation, he joined the Mathrubhumi literary magazine and later became its editor, which he held till 1981.

He also held the post of chairman of the Thunchan Memorial Trust and Research Centre and the president of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

Career in Cinema and Literature  

In 1965 he wrote his first movie script Murappennu.

In 1973  he directed his first film Nirmalyam, which won the national award for best feature film.

During his long career, he directed seven films and wrote scripts for 45 films.

As an author, his work dealt with the problems faced by matrilineal families which was undergoing a transformation in modern India. His novels Naalukettu, Asuravith, and Kaalam highlighted this struggle and transformation.

Nair in Kerala follows a matrilineal kinship system.

His notable works are Asuravithu, Kaalam, Randamoozham, and  Naalukettu. Varanasi was his last novel which was published in 2002.

Awards and Honours 

M T Vasudevan Nair won various national and state awards during his lifetime.

• Padma Bhushan- India’s third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan was conferred on him by the government of India in 2005.
• Kerala Jyothi Award; Kerala government's highest award Kerala Jyothi Award in 2022.
• Jnanapith Award: India’s highest literature prize Jnanpith in 1995
• Kendra Sahitya Akademi prize in 1969 for his novel Naalukettu.
• He also won National film awards.

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