<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Jnanpith laureate legendary <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/malayalam">Malayalam</a> writer M T Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as 'MT', passed away in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kozhikode">Kozhikode</a> on Wednesday. He was 91.</p><p>Nair was under treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest last week. He was in critical condition over the last five days. He breathed his last by Wednesday evening. The state government has declared two days mourning as a mark of respect to MT.</p><p>A versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, MT wrote around ten novels and over 15 short stories and children's literature. He scripted the screenplay for around 54 films and directed six films.</p>.Veteran Malayalam film actress Meena Ganesh no more.<p>MT was honoured with the Jnanpith in 1995 and Padma Bhushan in 2005. He bagged a series of awards including the national film award for best screenplay four times. He was recently honoured by the Kerala government for his contributions to film and literary sectors.</p><p>Born at Kudallur village near Pattambi in Palakkad district, MT was a chemistry school teacher. He shot to limelight as a writer with his award winning work 'Nalukettu'. It won the Kerala Sahitya Akademy award in 1958.</p><p>'Randamoozham' ('The second turn') that retells the story of the Mahabharata from Bhimasena's perspective, is also a widely acclaimed work of MT. Though steps were taken to make a big budget film based on the novel with Mohanlal playing the lead role, it had to be shelved reportedly due to differences between MT and the filmmakers. Screenplays for 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', 'Kadavu', 'Sadayam' and 'Parinayam' won the national award for best screenplay.</p><p>MT had also served as editor of the periodicals wing of Mathrubhumi publications.</p><p>Prameela is his first wife and he later married Kalamandalam Saraswathi. He also leaves behind daughters Sithara and Aswathy. </p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Jnanpith laureate legendary <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/malayalam">Malayalam</a> writer M T Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as 'MT', passed away in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kozhikode">Kozhikode</a> on Wednesday. He was 91.</p><p>Nair was under treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest last week. He was in critical condition over the last five days. He breathed his last by Wednesday evening. The state government has declared two days mourning as a mark of respect to MT.</p><p>A versatile writer in modern Malayalam literature, MT wrote around ten novels and over 15 short stories and children's literature. He scripted the screenplay for around 54 films and directed six films.</p>.Veteran Malayalam film actress Meena Ganesh no more.<p>MT was honoured with the Jnanpith in 1995 and Padma Bhushan in 2005. He bagged a series of awards including the national film award for best screenplay four times. He was recently honoured by the Kerala government for his contributions to film and literary sectors.</p><p>Born at Kudallur village near Pattambi in Palakkad district, MT was a chemistry school teacher. He shot to limelight as a writer with his award winning work 'Nalukettu'. It won the Kerala Sahitya Akademy award in 1958.</p><p>'Randamoozham' ('The second turn') that retells the story of the Mahabharata from Bhimasena's perspective, is also a widely acclaimed work of MT. Though steps were taken to make a big budget film based on the novel with Mohanlal playing the lead role, it had to be shelved reportedly due to differences between MT and the filmmakers. Screenplays for 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', 'Kadavu', 'Sadayam' and 'Parinayam' won the national award for best screenplay.</p><p>MT had also served as editor of the periodicals wing of Mathrubhumi publications.</p><p>Prameela is his first wife and he later married Kalamandalam Saraswathi. He also leaves behind daughters Sithara and Aswathy. </p>