The mortal remains of M.T. Vasudevan Nair, a colossus who straddled Malayalam literature and cinema for around six decades, were consigned to flames here on Thursday.
His daughter Aswathi, nephews T. Satheesan and M.T. Ramakrishnan, and relatives Mohan Nair, M.T. Rajeev and Deepu Mohan led the funeral rituals performed at ‘Smrithi Patham’, the newly renovated crematorium of the Kozhikode Corporation near Mavoor Road in the city.
Full State honours were bestowed upon the writer. The State government had earlier declared a two-day mourning from December 26.
M.T. passed away on December 25 night after being hospitalised for around 10 days. The body was later taken to ‘Sitara’, his house on Kottaram Road in Nadakkavu in the city.
There was a steady stream of visitors to pay their homage to their beloved writer from Thursday morning. Indian Union Muslim League State president Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal and actor Mohanlal were among the first to arrive there, along with director T.K. Rajeev Kumar.
They were followed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer, Minister for Finance K.N. Balagopal, Minister for Culture Saji Cherian, Minister for Public Works and Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Excise and Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Agriculture P. Prasad, Minister for Agriculture K. Krishnankutty, Minister for Ports Kadannappally Ramachandran, and Minister for Forest and Wildlife A.K. Saseendran.
The others who reached there include Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip, Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedhran, her husband and former Chief Secretary V. Venu, State Police Chief Sheik Darvesh Sahib, District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, Shafi Parambil, M.K. Raghavan, and A.A. Rahim, MPs, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, Indian Union Muslim League national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, writers Sara Joseph, Subhash Chandran, Ambikasuthan Mangad, M.N. Karassery, and Benyamin, directors Hariharan, Sibi Malayil, Kamal, and Jayaraj, actors Vineeth, Kuttiyedathi Vilasini, Suraj Venjaramood, Joy Mathew, and Siddique, Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman Premkumar, and the former MLA A. Pradeepkumar. Thousands of others too paid their last respects to M.T.
Around 4.35 p.m., the body was taken in an ambulance that passed via Kottaram Road, Wayanad Road, Bank Road, and Mavoor Road to reach the crematorium. A large number of people had gathered there too. The police gave their guard of honours to him thereafter. Then, the family members performed the rituals and the body was taken to the funeral pyre around 5.30 p.m. Later, a condolence meeting was held on the crematorium premises.
Published – December 26, 2024 08:12 pm IST