TRIBUTE TO MT

Celebrating five of MT's best screenplays with some of Mollywood's greatest directors

Author, screenwriter and director MT Vasudevan Nair passed away in Kozhikode on Wednesday. He has written screenplays for 50 movies directed by some of Malayalam cinema's best auteurs. Here is a look at some of his best scripts.

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
MT's retelling of the Vadakkan Pattukal from the point of view of Chandu was made into a cult classic by T Hariharan. Chandu's life as an adopted son in the house of Kannappan Chekavar, the strained relationship with his cousin Aromal (Suresh Gopi), who loathed him, and his love for Unniyarcha form the crux of the movie. Mammootty's portrayal of Chandu won him the National award for the best actor. The film won three more National Film Awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design and eight Kerala state film awards.

Oppol
Oppol, directed by KS Sethumadhavan and based on MT Vasudevan Nair's short story of the same name, explores family dynamics and deeply dissects the relationship of a young child who becomes deeply affected and disturbed after his elder sister gets married. The film marked Menaka Suresh's debut in Malayalam cinema and featured Balan K Nair and Master Aravind in key roles. It won several accolades, including the national award for Best Actor, Best Child Artist, and Best Singer.

Adiozhukkukal
Considered one of the best films in Mammootty's career, Adiozhukkukal, directed by IV Sasi and based on MT's screenplay, follows the life of a jail convict who leaves prison in hopes of returning to his old life. However, he is shocked to learn that the man responsible for his current state of affairs has married the love of his life. The heartbreaking tale of love and loss is considered as one of the masterpiecws in Malayalam Cinema.

Nirmalyam
Nirmalyam marked MT's entry as a director and was closely associated with the changes in Kerala's social and economic setup of the 60s and 70s. It also portrayed the change in attitude to temple rituals and the lives of people associated with it. Last year, the film, which has often stoked controversy for its depiction of the upper caste, completed 50 years.

Sadayam
The movie is a thought-provoking psychological drama that explores mental health and themes like capital punishment through the eyes of a man, Sathyananthan, who is on death row. The movie, directed by Sibi Malayil, is a compelling story and is celebrated for being one of Mohanlal's best works to date.