The Master Carpenter

She has a doctorate in English Literature from the University of Mysore and has been actively involved in translating short stories, novels and anthologies from Malayalam into English. Her works include: Kaalam by MT Vasudevan Nair, The Eye of God by N P Mohamed, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2001 and Cast Me Out if You Will, a collection of short stories and autobiographical essays by Lalithambika Anterjanam. Gita Krishnankutty has contributed to The Demon Seed and Other Writings by MT Vasudevan Nair and Bhaskara Pattelar and Other Stories by Paul Zacharia. She has also translated a Katha Trailblazer – Two Novellas by Paul Zacharia. Gita Krishnankutty has received the Katha Award for Translation twice, in 1993 and 2000, and also the Crossword Award for Translation in 1999.
 

Littérateur, playwright, critic, travel writer, screenwriter M T Vasudevan Nair is one of the most outstanding writers of India.

Born at Kudallur village in Palghat, Kerala in 1933, MT began contributing to periodicals very early in life. The first collection of his short stories was published before he completed his graduation from Victoria College, Palghat. He joined the Malayalam magazine Mathrubhumi in 1956, and later became its editor.

He has won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel, Kaalam; the President’s Gold Medal for the film Nirmalyam – written, produced and directed by him; The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award thrice for his novel, Naalukettu; his short story collection Swargam Turakkunna Samayam and play, Gopuranatayil. He received the Vayalar Award for his novel Randamoozham and the National Award for Best Screenplay for Oru Vadakkan Veera Gatha, Sadayam and Kadavu. MT was awarded the Katha Award for Creative Fiction for the story Cheriya Cheriya Bhookambangal in 1992. He received the prestigious Jnanpith award in 1995. The Padma Bhushan Award was conferred upon him in 2005. MT lives in Calicut.