MT Vasudevan Nair cultural park to come up in Kozhikode; ₹50 crore allocated

Kozhikode: A major cultural park dedicated to the celebrated Malayalam writer and filmmaker M.T. Vasudevan Nair is planned in Kozhikode and will be among the largest in the country, Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunadh said.

The minister made the statement after visiting MT's residence in Kozhikode and meeting his family members.

The state government has allocated ₹50 crore in the budget for the initial work on the project. The park will go beyond being a conventional memorial and will serve as a centre for the study and research of various art forms, the minister said.

The proposed facility will include a history and literature museum, a large library, a bookshop, an art gallery and a cinema theatre. It will also feature a museum showcasing writers' voices and facilities for workshops on short films and documentaries.

The park is also expected to include guest houses and a food court to accommodate writers, filmmakers and other artists visiting from abroad, making it the first such comprehensive cultural park in the country, according to the minister.

Umbayi academy also planned

An academy in memory of renowned ghazal singer Umbayi will also be launched during the current financial year, Vishnunath said.

The district collector has been tasked with identifying suitable land for both projects, he added.

MT's wife, Kalamandalam Saraswathy, daughter and dancer Aswathy V. Nair received the minister at the residence. MLAs K. Jayanth and K. Praveen Kumar and former minister M.K. Muneer were present.