‘I longed for him, prayed for him, and found him’, Mammootty’s heartfelt note on late MT Vasudevan Nair

In a heartfelt reflection, Malayalam veteran actor Mammootty opened up about his profound connection with legendary writer MT Vasudevan Nair, who passed away on Wednesday. The actor’s words encapsulated the depth of their relationship and the influence MT had on his life and career. “Some say it was MT who discovered me,” Mammootty began. “But it was I who longed for him, prayed for him, and eventually found him. From the day I met him, our bond grew stronger—like a friend, like a brother.”

Sharing a personal memory, Mammootty recounted an incident from a programme in Ernakulam, just a few months ago. “During the event, he stumbled, and I instinctively reached out to support him. As he leaned on my chest, I felt an inexplicable emotion—like I was his son. It was a moment that etched itself into my soul.”

Mammootty expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to portray characters born from MT’s genius. “To have a place in his heart is the greatest fortune my cinematic journey has given me. I have brought to life many of his characters, filled with his soul and essence. But none of that comes to mind now. An era seems to be fading away.”

Concluding his tribute, Mammootty admitted, “My mind feels empty. I fold my hands in reverence.”

MT’s association with Mammootty began with Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980), which featured the actor’s first credited role. The duo collaborated on films like Trishna (1981), Adiyozhukkukal (1984), Aalkkoottathil Thaniye (1984), Anubandham (1985), Idanilangal (1985), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Uttaram (1989), middle (1990), Sukrutham (1994), and Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009). Their last project together was Kadugannawa Oru Yathra Kurippua segment from the anthology series Manorathangalin which Mammootty portrayed a semi-autobiographical version of MT.

MT passed away at Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, at the age of 91.