M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Writer, Filmmaker
Writer, Filmmaker

M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Born 15 July 1933 · Kerala — Died 25 December 2024

Authored Randamoozham, a retelling of the Mahabharata from Bhimasena's perspective.

Madath Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Narayanan Nair was an Indian author, lecturer, screenplay writer, filmmaker and literary statesman. He was a prolific and versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, and was one of the masters of post-Independence Indian literature. Randamoozham, which retells the story of the Mahabharata from the point of view of Bhimasena, is widely credited as his masterpiece.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

In 1953, as a chemistry student, M. T. Vasudevan Nair won an international short story prize sponsored by the New York Herald Tribune and Hindustan Times, marking an unusual entry point for a literary giant.

The Story

1
In 1953, while pursuing a chemistry degree at Victoria College, Palakkad, M. T. Vasudevan Nair won the World Short Story Competition for his Malayalam story "Valarthumrigangal," beating thousands of entries globally.
2
🌟 At just 23, his novel "Naalukettu" (1958) won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, anchoring his voice in Malayalam literature through vivid portrayals of traditional Kerala tharavad life.
3In 1965, Nair wrote his first film screenplay for "Murappennu," adapting his own story, which transformed Malayalam cinema by establishing screenplays as a respected literary form.
4🏆 Between 1989 and 1994, he won four National Film Awards for Best Screenplay, including for "Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha," a film that reimagined Kerala folklore with a nuanced, human perspective.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1995
Jnanpith Award
2005
Padma Bhushan
2025
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1953, MT won the World Short Story Competition jointly organized by the New York Herald Tribune, Hindustan Times, and Mathrubhumi, an unusual achievement for a Malayalam writer still in college.

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Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
M. T. Vasudevan Nair at the Big Kerala Awards ceremony (2008).
M. T. Vasudevan Nair at the Big Kerala Awards ceremony (2008).
2008
M. T. Vasudevan Nair with cinematographer Ramachandra Babu (2010).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Kudallur, Kerala
M. T. Vasudevan Nair was born in Kudallur village, then part of Malabar District under Madras Presidency, British India.
1933
🏅
Award
Won World Short Story Competition
While a chemistry student at Victoria College, Palakkad, MT won the best short story prize for 'Valarthumrigangal' in a competition organized by New York Herald Tribune and others.
1953
📖
Publication
Published Naalukettu, won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award
His first major novel 'Naalukettu' earned the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, establishing him as a significant voice in Malayalam literature.
1958
⚡
Career
First screenplay for Murappennu
MT wrote his debut screenplay adapting his story 'Snehathinte Mukhangal', marking a turning point in Malayalam cinema's scriptwriting traditions.
1965
🏅
Award
National Film Award for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
He won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', a film that reinterpreted Kerala’s folklore hero Chandu the Betrayer.
1989
🏅
Award
Received Jnanpith Award
MT was awarded the Jnanpith, India's highest literary honor, recognizing his contributions to Malayalam literature over decades.
1995
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
The Government of India honored MT Vasudevan Nair with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, for his literary and cinematic achievements.
2005
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Kozhikode
MT Vasudevan Nair died on 25 December 2024, leaving behind a legacy that transformed Malayalam literature and cinema.
2024
🏅
Award
Posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan
In recognition of his lifetime achievements, MT was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.
2025
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

MT Vasudevan Nair wrote screenplays for over 54 Malayalam films and won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay four times, the highest by any writer in this category.

02 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

His novel 'Randamoozham' reimagines the Mahabharata from Bhima’s perspective, a narrative innovation that challenged traditional epic storytelling norms in India.

03 / 05
👤PERSONAL

MT's early life included a mysterious family episode where a girl close to his age, introduced as his father's friend's daughter, revealed complexities that influenced his themes of belonging.

“

"The body has an innate ability to heal itself."

— M. T. Vasudevan Nair

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
M. T. Vasudevan Nair : Documentary on MT Vasudevan Nair's land, Part 2
More from this archive
M. T. Vasudevan Nair : Documentary on MT Vasudevan Nair's land, Part 2
01
M. T. Vasudevan Nair : Documentary on MT Vasudevan Nair's land, Part 2
നിള നൽകിയ എഴുത്താണി | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | Indian author | Interview
02
നിള നൽകിയ എഴുത്താണി | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | Indian author | Interview
കാലം കഥനം... നിളയുടെ കഥാകാരന് നവതി | MT Vasudevan Nair
03
കാലം കഥനം... നിളയുടെ കഥാകാരന് നവതി | MT Vasudevan Nair
കഥകളുടെ കഥ പറഞ്ഞ് എം.ടി.യും കൊച്ചുമകനും | M.T Vasudevan Nair | Interview
04
കഥകളുടെ കഥ പറഞ്ഞ് എം.ടി.യും കൊച്ചുമകനും | M.T Vasudevan Nair | Interview
MT Vasudevan Nair speech | Elements studio Inauguration, Perungudi Chennai |
05
MT Vasudevan Nair speech | Elements studio Inauguration, Perungudi Chennai |
M.T. Vasudevan Nair Malayalam Directed by Hari Kumar
06
M.T. Vasudevan Nair Malayalam Directed by Hari Kumar
Interview with M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Part 1
07
Interview with M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Part 1
എം.ടി. വാസുദേവൻ നായർ - ജീവിത ചിത്രം / M.T. Vasudevan Nair : Life and Work (Malayalam)
08
എം.ടി. വാസുദേവൻ നായർ - ജീവിത ചിത്രം / M.T. Vasudevan Nair : Life and Work (Malayalam)
M T Vasudevan Nair | Manorama News
09
M T Vasudevan Nair | Manorama News
Harikrishna Mamidi & M T VASUDEVAN NAIR FILMS-PART 01
10
Harikrishna Mamidi & M T VASUDEVAN NAIR FILMS-PART 01

🌱 What changed because of them

M. T. Vasudevan Nair revolutionized Malayalam literature by bringing the nuanced lives of Kerala’s tharavad families to the forefront, influencing cultural self-understanding across generations. His insistence on screenplay as a literary form elevated Malayalam cinema’s narrative quality and inspired filmmakers to approach scripts with literary sophistication. His reinterpretations of classical epics like the Mahabharata challenged traditional narratives, inspiring new dialogues on identity and storytelling in Indian literature.

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