Nine shades of life

MT Vasudevan nair and daughter Aswathi at the shore of river Chaliyar, Kadavu resort . 
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Quietly but lovingly, a marriage of cinema and literature is taking place. The celebrations promise to go on for a year. All lovers, fans and followers of the inimitable MT Vasudevan Nair are welcome to attend. As MT (as he is known to legions of his readers), turns 90 on July 15, nine short films beckon cinegoers. With the likes of Santosh Sivan, Priyadarsan and Jayaraj involved with the project called Manorathangal (Mindscapes), each film promises to be a fulfilling experience. Every venture is brief, merely 40 minutes. Every one of them is based on a short story by MT that has outlived the decade in which it was penned.

The thought for this celebration of MT’s nine decades came to his daughter, Aswathy Nair, herself a noted Bharatanatyam dancer, during the COVID-19 lockdown. In the self-limiting days of the pandemic, Aswathy’s mind soared, and she decided to put together major celebrations to mark the 90th birthday of her father, a versatile genius who has contributed generously to enrich the world of literature and cinema.

“Initially, I had chosen 20 stories. Then I brought them down to 10. Finally, in consultation with my father, I opted for these nine stories for their timeless human element,” says Aswathy, who is a common element, a kind of sutradhar for the year-long celebrations of the life and works of MT.

When Aswathy decided to pencil in on the rich collection of MT’s work, her first choice was, inevitably, stories with women protagonist. “ I wanted women as the protagonists but discovered many wonderful stories with male protagonists. Ultimately, I chose stories with an abiding human element, with emotions of love, lust, greed and revenge, etc. They project a writer’s versatility,” says Aswathy.

The process of selection of directors and artists for these films for OTT was easy, and in a way, inevitable. Santosh Sivan is associated with these films. He has worked with MT. “He has worked as a cinematographer with my father. His camera captures Nature like nobody else. He has a different way of thinking. We have family relations too,” says Aswathy, explaining the ace director-cinematographer’s association with the project.

Aswathy Nair with her father, MT Vasudevan Nair. 
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Likewise, noted director Priyadarsan who has helmed films Olavum Theeravum (Ripples and the River Bank) and Silalikhitham (Inscriptions) was keen to work on MT’s short stories for a long time. “He waited for more than a quarter century to make a film on MT’s short stories. The same for Jayaraj and Shyamaprasad who have directed Swargam Thurakkuna Samayam (When the Doors of Heavens Opened) and Kazhcha (Vision), respectively,” says Aswathy.

Mohanlal and Santosh Sivan on the location of ‘Olavum Theeravum’
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Incidentally, Aswathy herself has directed a film for the series. Called Vilpana (The Sale), it stars Madhubala and Asif Ali. Not a trained director, she became one by default. “My directorial venture happened by chance. Someone was supposed to do this film. He could not. Then someone else was chosen. That director could not find time to do it. The project was getting delayed, so I stepped in. The story had to be handled with care. I am a Bharatanatyam dancer. I know about stage production but not about cinema. It was Santosh Sivan who prevailed upon me. He said, ‘You have the film in your head. Just do it’,” Aswathy recalls. Stars Mammoooty, Mohanlal and Fahad Fasil have acted in these short films.

With the trailer being launched shortly, the films are symbolic of MT’s much-feted career. The films will be released early August and screened throughout his 90 years celebrations. “It is a marriage of literature with cinema, much like his career,” says the proud daughter, recalling how ace director Mani Ratnam once gushed about MT’s ability to adapt to the screen. Incidentally, besides penning novels such as Naalukettu (Ancestral Home), Manju (Mist) Kaalam (Time) and Asuravithu (The Prodigal Son), MT, has directed seven films and written or done the screenplay for more than 50 films.

Kerala’s much-loved son, his works have transcended the geographical boundaries of the State. “A good number of novels and short stories have been translated into English and many regional languages,” says Aswathy.

Also on the anvil is a two-part movie Randamoozham. based on his eponymous novel. All that is perfectly laudable, but how does one introduce MT to a teenager who has never read him?

“He or she should read his short stories and watch his classics,” says Aswathy, and goes on to list a few: Sherlock, Inscriptions, The Deluge, Vision, Oppol and In Your Memory. Time to catch up on the best of MT Vasudevan Nair.

MT Vasudevan Nair