The Writings of M. T. Vasudevan Nair brings together three of renowned Malayalam writer M. T. Vasudevan Nair’s works—Mist and The Soul of Darkness (translations of the acclaimed novellas, Manhu and Irutinde Atmavu), Kaalam and Kuttiedathi and Other Stories.
Narrating the experiences ofwaiting for a lost lover (Mist) and the pain of being treated abominably by one’s family for being ‘not normal’ (The Soul of Darkness), these poignant stories speak of lost hopes.
Set in the context of the crumbling matrilineal tarawad system of the Nairs in Kerala, Kaalam narrates the story of disillusionment of an ambitious adolescent, Sethumadhavan Nair, as he journeys towards adulthood; these experiences reflect MT’s own childhood in many ways.
Kuttiedathi and Other Stories encompasses the middle class lives and sufferings of people in Northern Kerala. Touching upon themes of memory, domestic martyrdom and passion, these stories are narrated in Nair’s minimalistic yet profound style.
The volume also features an Introduction by eminent academic and scholar of Malayalam literature, P. P. Raveendran.
Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nair is a renowned storywriter and is also among Kerala’s most popular script writers and directors of mainstream cinema. The Government of India honoured him with the Padmabhushan in 2005.
Translator(s)
V. Abdulla (1921–2003), a seasoned and sensitive translator, was awarded the Yatra Award (1995) and the Sevarathna Award (1996) for translation.
Gita Krishnankutty has translated a number of Malayalam works into English. She has won both the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Crossword Award for translation.
Introduction: MT and the Art of Artlessness P. P. Raveendran
Mist & The Soul of Darkness Foreword by V. Abdulla Mist The Soul of Darkness Glossary Kaalam Translator’s Preface Kinship Terms Kaalam Glossary Kuttiedathi and Other Stories Foreword by Ayyappa Paniker 1. Kuttiedathi 2. Bondage 3. The Enemy 4. Red Earth 5. Once Again in Search of a Refuge 6. The Sale 7. When the Doors of Heaven Open 8. Kadugannawa: A Travel Note 9. The Deluge 10. Insight Glossary