M T Vasudevan Nair, a prominent figure in Malayalam literature and cinema, died on Wednesday at the age of 91. 

The esteemed author, who was also a celebrated screenwriter and director, passed away at a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, on December 25, 2024. He had been hospitalized since Friday following a heart failure and was reported to be in critical condition.

MT’s rich repertoire of work

M T Vasudevan Nair, commonly referred to as MT in his native Kerala, leaves a profound legacy. He received the prestigious Jnanpith award, among numerous other accolades at both state and national levels.

In addition to his influential literary contributions, including the notable work Randamoozham, MT significantly impacted the Malayalam film industry as both a writer and director.

His entry into Malayalam cinema began with the screenplay for the 1965 film Murappennu, featuring Prem Nazir.

MT made his directorial debut with Nirmalyam in 1973, a film that garnered both the National and Kerala State Film Awards. The lead actor, PJ Antony, also received the National Award for Best Actor for his remarkable performance in this groundbreaking film.

The films Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, featuring Mammootty, Hariharan's Parinayam, and Mohanlal’s poignant Sadayam are just a few examples of the numerous works by the auteur that have received National Awards. Even years after their initial screenings, these movies continue to provoke discussions and debates within Kerala.

Additional significant films in his oeuvre include Amrutham Gamaya, Panchagni, Aalkoottathil Thaniye, and Thazhvaram. Among his final major theatrical releases was Mammootty's Pazhassi Raja, which premiered in 2013.

MT’s Manorathangal

Manorathangal, an anthology series inspired by nine stories by MT, debuted on Zee5 earlier this year. Esteemed figures of Malayalam cinema, such as Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Fahadh Faasil, collaborated on this ambitious endeavour. Additionally, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan contributed to the project by serving as the narrator for the series.

The nine segments were helmed by distinguished figures from Malayalam cinema, including Priyadarshan, Santhosh Sivan, Ranjith, Jayaraj, Shyamaprasad, Mahesh Narayanan, and Ratheesh Ambat. Additionally, Aswathy V. Nair, the daughter of MT, directed one of the segments titled Vilpana. This series represents his final endeavour in film. Earlier this year, MT was present at the trailer launch event of Manorathangal, which was one of his last public appearances.

Read Also: Marco Day 6: Unni Mukundan's Film Achieves ₹25 Crore Milestone in India