Did you know that MT Vasudevan Nair, celebrated for his short stories, novels, and screenplays, once ventured into writing film songs? It sounds surprising, but it’s true. This rare event occurred in the 1981 film Valarthumrugangal, directed by Hariharan, where MT also wrote the screenplay.

MT has contributed to many films as a screenwriter and director, but Valarthumrugangal stands out because it’s the only film where he officially wrote songs. All the songs in the film were crafted by him, and his unique writing style shines through in the lyrics.

One of the most memorable songs from the film is Shubharathri Shubharathri (meaning ). Often called the first-ever 'goodnight' song in Malayalam, it’s a testament to MT’s ability to create something entirely new in film music.

A reluctant lyricist
Interestingly, MT’s journey as a lyricist wasn’t planned. In Valarthumrugangal, the original choice for writing the songs was Yusufali Kechery. However, Yusufali, who had travelled to Kozhikode, fell ill and couldn’t complete the task. Though he later offered to meet in Chennai to work on the songs, there wasn’t enough time.

The film’s music composer, MB Sreenivasan, was about to leave for an international conference abroad and needed the songs ready within two days. With no other option, director Hariharan turned to MT for help.

MT was initially hesitant. In old interviews, he admitted, “Sometimes, with some effort, I might write a few poems, but I can’t write songs.” Yet, under pressure, he agreed to give it a try. “I don’t feel proud of those songs, nor am I embarrassed by them,” he said. This attitude was evident in the film’s credits, where the phrase “Poems – MT Vasudevan Nair” was used instead of “Lyricist.”

Songs that never saw the light
There’s an interesting footnote to MT’s brief stint as a lyricist. Hariharan had plans to involve MT in another film, Evideyo Oru Shatru, where MT had written the screenplay. However, the movie was never released, and the songs went unheard.

Decades later, the same script was adapted into Ezhamathe Varavu, starring Indrajith. Sadly, the film didn’t make an impact at the box office, and MT’s lyrical contributions remained unnoticed.

It’s also said that MT wrote many other songs, but for various reasons, they were never used in films. While his stint as a songwriter may have been brief, it adds an intriguing chapter to the multifaceted career of this literary legend.