M.T. Vasudevan Nair, celebrated Indian screenwriter, director and novelist, died on Dec. 25 at a hospital in Kozhikode after being admitted to a hospital for breathing difficulties. He was 91.

His contributions to Malayalam-language cinema and literature redefined storytelling in the southern Indian state of Kerala where he was born. Nair’s early exposure to traditional folktales and the lush landscapes of his homeland would later inform his distinct narrative style. His cinematic career began in the early 1960s, and he quickly emerged as a master of the screenplay, becoming synonymous with an emerging new wave movement in Malayalam cinema.

Nair’s debut as a screenwriter, “Murappennu” (1965), directed by A. Vincent, set the tone for a career defined by emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. Over the decades, he penned screenplays for over 60 films, including iconic works such as “Nirmalyam” (1973), which won India’s National Film Award for Best Feature Film and marked his directorial debut.