Madath Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He is a prolific and versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, and is one of the masters of post-Independence Indian literature. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Anakkara panchayath in Pattambi Taluk, Palakkad district (Palghat), which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj. He shot into fame at the age of 20 when, as a chemistry undergraduate, he won the prize for the best short story in Malayalam at World Short Story Competition conducted by The New York Herald Tribune. His debut novel Naalukettu, wrote at the age of 23, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. His other novels include Manju (Mist), Kaalam (Time), Asuravithu and Randamoozham. The deep emotional experiences of his early days have gone into the making of MT's novels. Most of his works are oriented towards the basic Malayalam family structure and culture 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 Naalukettu, Asuravithu, and Kaalam. Randamoozham, which retells the story of the Mahabharatha from the point of view of Bhimasena, is widely credited as his masterpiece.
Ajayan, also known as Thoppil Ajayan, was a Malayalam film director who is of note for his only feature film Perumthachan. The film received positive reviews from critics worldwide. For this film, Ajayan won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director and Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director in 1990. The film also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film in 1990 and was nominated for the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1992.
Thanmathra is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Blessy, based on Padmarajan's short story "Orma". It portrays the effects of Alzheimer's disease on the life of Ramesan Nair (Mohanlal) and his family. The film collected three times its budget at the box-office and completed 150 days run. Thanmathra won five Kerala State Film Awards, which includes the Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and a Special Mention Award for the debutant actor Arjun Lal. It also won the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award at the 53rd National Film Awards.
Randamoozham is a 1984 Malayalam novel by Indian author M. T. Vasudevan Nair, widely credited as his masterpiece. The work won the Vayalar Award, given for the best literary work in Malayalam, in 1985. It also won the Muttathu Varkey Award in 1994. The novel has been translated to multiple languages. It was translated into English as Second Turn in 1997. Another English translation by Gita Krishnankutty published in 2013 is titled Bhima: Lone Warrior.
Nirmalyam is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film written and directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring P. J. Antony and Shanta Devi. Malayalam actor P. J. Antony won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1974 for his performance as a velichappadu in this movie. The film received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 1974. It is one of the classics in Malayalam cinema.
Daya is a 1998 Malayalam period film written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, directed by Venu, and starring Manju Warrier in the lead role. The storyline of the film is adapted from One Thousand and One Nights. Vishal Bhardwaj scored the music of the film. It was the directorial debut of cinematographer Venu. He won the awards for best debut director at the National Film Awards and Kerala State Film Awards.
Panchagni is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language drama thriller film directed by Hariharan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The story is loosely inspired from the life of naxalite K. Ajitha who was part of the naxalite movement in Kerala in the 1960s. The film tells the story of Indira, a naxalite who comes out from prison on parole, she is serving a life sentence for killing a landlord. It stars Mohanlal, Geetha, Nadia Moidu, and Thilakan. The film features songs composed by Bombay Ravi and a score by Pukazhenthi. Cinematography was done by Shaji N. Karun.
Prayanam is a 1975 Indian Malayalam-language feature film written by Padmarajan and directed by Bharathan. It was the debut of both Padmarajan and Bharathan. The writer-director duo is often credited for revolutionising Malayalam cinema with their expressive and innovative works.
Swapnam is a 1973 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Babu Nanthankode and produced by Sivan. The film stars Madhu, Nanditha Bose, Sudheer and Jose Prakash in the lead roles. The film is noted for the mesmerizing and beautiful musical score by Salil Chowdhary, which is considered to be one of his classics.
The 26th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1978. Ceremony took place in April 1979.
Asuravithu is a Malayalam novel written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Set in Kizhakkemuri, a fictional picturesque village in Kerala, the novel describes the plight of the protagonist Govindankutty, the youngest son of a proud Nair tharavadu, as he is trapped between the social scenario, social injustice and his own inner consciousness. As in many other M. T. novels, Asuravithu also has as its theme, the conflicts and problems of a Nair Family. The novel's English translation is titled The Demon Seed.
Vimala Menon, known popularly as Kalamandalam Vimala Menon is an Indian dance teacher and Mohiniyattam exponent from Kerala. She is the founder and Director of Kerala Natya Academy in Thiruvananthapuram.
Manju (Mist) is a novel by M. T. Vasudevan Nair published in 1964. With few conversations and minimal characters the novel narrates the story of a school teacher. The novel is set in the mountains and valleys of Nainital where Vimala Devi, a teacher in a boarding school, waits in hope for the winter of her discontent to vanish. Despite having a family comprising father, mother, sister and brother, Vimala is kept aloof from them. She hates the company of her family and enjoys solitude. The eco-feminist theme of patriarchal domination and exploitation gains more prominence in Manju, MT's only novel with a female protagonist. The novel stands apart as set in a milieu different from the usual one, the Valluvanadan village.
Moodalmanju is a 1970 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Sudin Menon and produced by C Vasudevan Nair. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Adoor Bhasi and P. J. Antony in the lead roles. The film had musical score by Usha Khanna.
Poonthenaruvi is a 1974 Indian Malayalam film, directed by J. Sasikumar and produced by C. C. Baby and V. M. Chandi. The film stars Prem Nazir, Nanditha Bose, Vincent, Sudheer and Jayan. The music score is by M. K. Arjunan.
Kaamam Krodham Moham is a 1975 Indian Malayalam film, directed and produced by Madhu. The film stars Madhu, Jayabharathi, Nanditha Bose, Kallayam Krishnadas and Manavalan Joseph in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam.
Enikku Njaan Swantham is a 1979 Indian Malayalam film, directed by P. Chandrakumar and produced by M. Mani. The film stars Madhu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Jose and Shubha in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam.
Valarthumrugangal is a 1981 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Hariharan. The film stars Ratheesh, Sukumaran, Madhavi and Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair in the lead roles. The film has musical score by MB Sreenivasan.
Kaahalam is a 1981 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Joshiy and produced by Areefa Hassan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Nanditha Bose, Seema, and Raveendran in the lead roles. The film has musical score by A. T. Ummer.
K. Ravindranathan Nair , a.k.a. Achani Ravi or General Pictures Ravi, is an Indian film producer of Malayalam films, industrialist and philanthropist, known for a number of critically acclaimed movies he has produced such as Kanchana Sita, Thampu, Kummatty, Esthappan, Pokkuveyil, Elippathayam, Manju, Mukhamukham, Anantaram and Vidheyan. Nair is credited with fostering the art film movement in Malayalam cinema during the period from the seventies till the nineties. A multiple recipient of National and State film awards, Nair was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award by the Government of Kerala, in 2008, for his contributions to Malayalam cinema.
