M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Infobox Writer
name = Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair
pseudonym = MT
birthdate = birth date|1933|06|15
birthplace = Kudallur, Palakkad, Kerala, India
occupation = Novelist, short story writer, screenplay writer, film director
nationality = Indian
genre = Novel, Short story
subject = Social aspects
movement = Realism
spouse = Kalamandalam Saraswathi
awards = Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi Award
website = http://www.mtvasudevannair.com/

M. T. Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, is a renowned Malayalam author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born on July 15, 1933 in Kudallur, a small village in Palakkad district, in the Indian state of Kerala. He is one of the most prolific and versatile writers in modern Malayalam literature. His novels, short stories and screenplays speak of the pain and anguish of the Kerala society in the post independence India. He has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay four times.

The essence of his work is self-suffering and its emotional intensity holds the readers captivated. The story of Kudallur village and Bharathapuzha are the most repeated and favourite theme. He explores the silences in life, in the folk tales of forgotten heroes and in the legends of warriors from epics forever retold.

Awards and Milestones

*MT was awarded the highest literary award in India, the "Jnanpith" in 1995.

He is also the recipient of:
*" [http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/|Kerala State Sahithya Academy] and [http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/index.htm|Central Sahithya Academy] "
*"National Award for Best Screenplay (five times)"
*"National Award and for Best Film & Actor (1973/Nirmalyam/PJ Anthony)"
*"Kerala State Award for Best Film & Screenplay (1978/Bandhanam)"
*"Kerala State Award for Best Film (1991/Kadavu)"

MT's oeuvre consists of novels, short-stories, film scripts and non-fiction works on literary themes. The US Library of Congress has in its collection sixty-two books by MT or on him. His close friendship with the giant of Malayalam literature, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was well chronicled. MT was severely criticised by artist Devan for his 'alleged hunger for power' and 'haste in getting to the chair in Delhi' when the celebrations of Nalukettu were going on.

Major works

Novels

*"Manju" (Mist)
*"Kalam" (Time)
*"Nalukettu" (Ancestral House)
*"Asuravithu" (Seed of the Demon)
*"Vilapayathra" (The Funeral Procession)
*"Pathiravum Pakalvelichavum" (Midnight and Daylight)
*"Arabipponnu" (The Gold of Arabia, written with N. P. Muhammed)
*"Randamoozham" (Second Turn)
*"Varanasi" (Benares)

tories

*"Iruttinte Atmavu" (The Soul of the Darkness)
*"Olavum Theeravum" (Ripple and Shore)
*"Kuttyedathi"
*"Varikkuzhi" (The Trap)
*"Pathanam" (The Fall)
*"Bandhanam" (The Binding)
*"Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam" (The Time When Heaven Opens)
*"Ninte" (Yours)
*"Vanaprastham"
*"Dar-es-salam"
*"Raktham Puranda Mantharikal"
*"Veyilum Nilavum" (The Sunlight and Moonlight)
*"Kaliveedu"
*"Vedanayude Pookkal" (The Flowers of Sorrow)
*"Sherlock"

creenplays

*"Olavum Theeravum"
*"Murappennu"
*"Nagarame Nanni"
*"Asuravithu"
*"Pakalkkinavu"
*"Iruttinte Atmavu"
*"Kuttiyedathi"
*"Oppol"
*"Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha"
*"Evideyo Oru Shatru"
*"Ennu Swantham Janakikkuttikku" (based on the short story Cheriya cheriya bhookampangal)
*"Vellam"
*"Panchagni"
*"Nakhakshatangal"
*"Amritam Gamaya"
*"Aaroodam"
*"Allkottathil Thaniye"
*"Adiyozhukkukal"
*"Uyarangalil"
*"Rithubhedam"
*"Vaishaali"
*"Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha"
*"Utharam"
*"Perunthachan"
*"Sukrutham"
*"Parinayam"
*"Teerthadanam" (based on his story Vanaprastham)
*"Aaranyakam"
*"Pazhassi Raja"
*"Sadayam"
*"Oru cheru punjiri"

Films and Documentaries

*"Nirmalyam" (Offerings, 1973)
*"Mohini Attam" (Documentary, 1977)
*"Bandhanam" (Bounding Ties, 1978)
*"Manju" (Mist, 1982)
*"Varikuzhy" (The Trap, 1982)
*"Kadavu" (Ferry, 1991)
*"Oru Cheru Punchiri" (A slender smile, 2000)
*"Thakazhi" (Documentary on Malayalam writer Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai)

External links

* [http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/mtvasu.html Cinema of Malayalam - MT Vasudevan Nair]
* [http://www.littlemag.com/2000/oppol.htm OPPOL (short story, English translation) - MT Vasudevan Nair - excerpt]
* [http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_203.html Biography of MT Vasudevan Nair from International Literature Festival, Berlin]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/01/19/stories/2007011900780100.htm Hindu Online - A tribute to Pazhassi Raja]
* [http://indulekha.com/choice/2006/02/m-t-collection.html all the books by MT Vasudevan Nair in Malayalam]
* [http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/author-detail.cgi?code=64 Online Bookstore for MT Works]