Thu Dec 26 08:08:19 UTC 2024: ## Eminent Malayalam Writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair Passes Away at 91

**Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, December 26, 2024** – Renowned Malayalam writer and Jnanpith Award recipient M.T. Vasudevan Nair passed away on December 25 at the age of 91. He had been undergoing treatment for heart failure at a private hospital in Kozhikode after being hospitalized last week. Hospital sources confirmed his death, citing multiple underlying health issues, including respiratory ailments.

Nair, popularly known as M.T., was a towering figure in Malayalam literature and cinema, celebrated for his evocative storytelling and exploration of human emotions and rural life. His seven-decade career encompassed nine novels, 19 short story collections, six films as director, approximately 54 screenplays, and numerous essays and memoirs. His work resonated with both the common reader and intellectual circles.

His novel *Naalukettu* (The Ancestral House) solidified his status as a literary icon, earning him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award at 25. Other acclaimed works include *Asuravithu*, *Manju*, and *Kaalam*, the latter winning him the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1969. In 1995, he received India’s highest literary honor, the Jnanpith Award. His numerous other accolades include four National Film Awards for Best Screenplay – a record in Malayalam cinema – for *Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha*, *Kadavu*, *Sadayam*, and *Parinayam*.

Beyond his literary contributions, Nair made significant impacts on Malayalam cinema as a screenwriter and director, with films like *Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha* and *Kadavu* considered masterpieces. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan (2005), the J.C. Daniel Award (2013), and the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award (2022). He also served as the editor of *Mathrubhumi Weekly*.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared two days of official mourning, postponing all government events, including the Cabinet meeting. Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan lauded Nair’s immense contribution to Malayalam and Indian literature and cinema, while Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan highlighted his profound impact on Malayalam language and culture. Nair is survived by his wife, Kalamandalam Saraswathy, and two daughters.

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