M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair
Born July 15, 1933 (1933-07-15) (age 78)
Kudallur, Palghat, British India
Pen name MT
Occupation Novelist, short story writer, screenplay writer, film director
Nationality Indian
Genres Novel, Short story, Children's literature
Subjects Social aspects, Oriented on the basic Malayalam family and cultures
Literary movement Realism
Notable award(s) Padma Bhushan, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi Award
Spouse(s) Kalamandalam Saraswathi (Second wife)



www.mtvasudevannair.com

Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair (Malayalam: മഠത്തില്‍ തെക്കെപാട്ട് വാസുദേവന്‍ നായര്‍) (born 15 July 1933[1][2]), popularly known as MT, is an Indian author,[3] screenplay writer and film director.[4] He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj.[5] He is one of the most prolific and versatile writers in modern Malayalam literature. In 2005, India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan was awarded to him.[6] He was awarded the highest literary award in India Jnanpith for his work Randamoozham (Second Turn).[7]

Contents

Life and career

He spent his early days in Punnayurkulam village of present day Thrissur District. He occupied and continues to occupy many important and powerful positions in various literary bodies including the presidentship of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the chairmanship of Tunchan Memorial Trust. The Library of Congress has in its collection sixty-two books, mostly by M.T and some on him. Also, some of them are translations of his works into English. He acted as the Chief Editor of the weekly Mathrubhumi and as the editor of the Mathrubhumi periodicals. He has also served as a faculty in the Film and Television Institute,Pune. On the 2 June 1996, he was bestowed with honourary D.Lit degree by the Calicut University. He is married twice. His second wife is the dance artist Kalamandalam Saraswathi with whom he has a daughter.

Literary works

Most of his works are oriented on the basic Malayalam family and cultures and many of them were path-breaking in the history of Malayalam literature. His three seminal novels on life in the matriarchal family in Kerala are Nalukettu, Asuravithu, and Kaalam. Randamoozham (The Second Turn), an epic novel widely regarded by critics as his masterpiece, retells the story of the Mahabharatha from the point of view of Bhima. He also wrote many short-stories, some of which were adapted into films by himself.

Filmography

He has written the screen play for at least 54 movies and has directed 7 titles. He has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay four times for: Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Kadavu (1991), Sadayam (1992), and Parinayam (1994), which is the most by any in screenplay category.

Awards and honours

Honorary Awards
Jnanpith Award
Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards
Kerala Sahithya Academy Awards
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
Other awards and accolades

Major works

Novels

Stories

Screenplays

Films and Documentaries

References

External links