Kozhikode, Kerala: A cultural park announced by the Kerala government in memory of Jnanpith laureate M. T. Vasudevan Nair in Kozhikode will be the country's largest and the first of its kind, Kerala Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister P. C. Vishnunadh said on Friday.
Speaking after visiting the late writer's residence and meeting his family members, the minister said ₹50 crore had been allocated in the state Budget for the project's preliminary works. He said the initiative was being conceived not merely as a memorial, but as a centre for the study and research of literature, cinema and various art forms.
Describing it as the country's largest cultural park, Vishnunadh said the project would be developed as a knowledge hub dedicated to literature, culture and the arts.
The proposed park will include a history and literature museum, a library, a bookshop, an art gallery, a cinema theatre, a sound museum featuring writers' voices, and facilities for workshops on short films and documentaries.
The project will also include hotels, guest houses and a food court to accommodate writers, filmmakers and visitors from India and abroad.
Vishnunadh said the park would preserve and showcase India's literary, historical and cultural heritage for future generations.
Legendary Malayalam writer M. T. Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, died on 26 December 2025 at the age of 91. Widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Malayalam literature, he was celebrated for transforming the art of storytelling through his novels, short stories and screenplays.
The minister also announced that an academy named after noted singer Umbayi would be established during the current financial year.
According to the official statement, the Kozhikode District Collector has been tasked with identifying suitable land for both the cultural park and the academy.
During his visit, Vishnunadh was received by M. T. Vasudevan Nair's wife Kalamandalam Saraswathy, daughter and classical dancer Aswathy Nair, and former minister M. K. Muneer.