Trivia

Retrospective at the Kerala International Film Festival, India. (2000)

Won the Kerala State Award for Best Film for Nirmalyam (1973), Bandhanam (1978), and Kadavu (1991). He won the Best Screenplay Award in 1986, and the Best Story Award for Oppol (1980), _Trishna (1981)_, Valarthu Mrugangal (1981), Aaroodam (1983), Amrutham Gamaya (1987), Perumthachan (1991), and Kadavu (1991) (also winning it in 1985 and 1989).

Nair was awarded Best Director for Nirmalyam (1973) and Oru Cheru Punchiri (2000), and Best Art Director for Nirmalyam (1973).

He was awarded Best Screenplay writer for Parinayam (1994) and Daya (1998), Best Scriptwriter for Olavum Theeravum (1970) and Nirmalyam (1973), and Best Story writer for Sukrutham (1994).

Nair scripted, produced and directed his debut film Nirmalyam (1973), which won the Indian President's Gold Medal (the national award for best film).

The essence of his work is self-suffering and its emotional intensity and rhythms of love hold the readers sticking to him. He is also among Kerala's most popular scriptwriters and directors of mainstream cinema.

Honored with the highest literary award the nation confers on a writer, the Jnanpith in 1995. Prior to that, he had received many awards and accolades like both state and center Sahitya Akademi Awards. He occupied and continues to occupy many important and powerful positions in various literary bodies including the presidency of Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the chairmanship of Tunchan Memorial Trust.

Novelist and film-maker M.T. Vasudevan Nair is one of the most respected Indian writers today. He rose to eminence through his well-crafted novels and short stories in Malayalam whose romantic poignancy and tender portrayal of the human condition endeared the author to his readers. He captured in subtle detail the pain and anguish that marked the ebb of feudalism in Kerala in many of his novels.

His wife is an expert teacher and guru in the Indian classical dance form of Mohiniyattam

MT Vasudevan Nair's illustrious career earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1995, India's highest literary honour. Other recognition's include the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Ezhuthachan Award and honorary DLitt degrees from Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi Universities.

Following his graduation, he worked briefly as a teacher before joining Mathrubhumi as a sub-editor in 1957.

His childhood, as reflected in many of his semi-autobiographical works, was marked by poverty and hardships.

He began his education at Malamakavu Elementary School and continued at Kumaranellur High School, eventually earning a degree in Chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953.