The Award jury, chaired by the most illustrious literary critic Dr. M. Leelavathi, decided to confer the honour on MT in recognition of his literary career spanning more than 50 years. The jury felt that the Ezhuthachan award had been long overdue to the 78-year- old writer, who had won the Jnanpith Award for Randamoozham ( Second Turn) in 1995.
Biography
M. T. Vasudevan Nair was born in the year 1933 on July 15th at Kudallur at Palakkad district. With his versatile writing skills he took a valuable space in Malayalam literature. His pen name in Malayalam literature is MT. He maintained the respected positions like president of Kerala Sahithya Academy and chairman of Thunchan Memorial Trust. He formerly was a journalist at Mathrubhumi and became the chief editor later. His wife is Kalamandalam Saraswathi who was a dancer. He has a daughter.
Awards
- MT was honored by Indian Government by the greatest literary award "Jyanapeedam" for the work 'Randamoozham' in Malayalam.
- Padma Bhushan in the year 2005.
- Calicut University by giving Honorary Doctorate in the year 1996.
- Kendra Sahithya Academy award for his novel Kaalam.
- Odakuzhal award for Vanaprastham.
- Kerala Sahitya Academy awards for his Novel Naalukettu in the year 1958.
- He also won the same award for his Drama Gopura Nadayil in 1982 and for his short story Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam in the year 1986 respectively.
- He got many national and state awards for his screenplays.
- National film awards for the films – Iruttinte Athmavu, Nirmalyam, Parinayam, Oru Cheru Punchiri, Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, Kadavu, Sadhayam.
- Vayalar Rama Varma award for Randamoozham.
- Kerala state film awards for the films – Olavum Theeravum, Nirmalyam,Bandhanam, Oppol, Thrishna, Valarthu Mrigangal, Aaroodam, Anubandham, Panchagni, Nakshatrangal, Amritham gamaya, Perumthanchan, Sukritham, Daya, Oru cheru Punchiri, Pazhassi Raja.
- The best life- time achievement award from Asianet in the year 2003.
- Muttathu Varkey award.
- Year, name
- 1993 Sooranad Kunjan Pillai
- 1994 Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
- 1995 Balamani Amma
- 1996 K. M. George
- 1997 Ponkunnam Varkey
- 1998 M. P. Appan
- 1999 K. P. Narayana Pisharody
- 2000 Pala Narayanan Nair
- 2001 O. V. Vijayan
- 2002 Kamala Surayya (Madhavikkutty)
- 2003 T. Padmanabhan
- 2004 Sukumar Azhikkode
- 2005 S. Gupthan Nair
- 2006 Kovilan
- 2007 O. N. V. Kurup
- 2008 Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
- 2009 Sugathakumari
- 2010 M. Leelavathi
- 2011 M. T. Vasudevan Nair