Kozhikode (Kerala) | A cultural park announced by the Kerala government in the name of Jnanpith laureate M T Vasudevan Nair in Kozhikode will be the country's largest and first of its kind, state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister P C Vishnunadh said on Friday.
He said Rs 50 crore has been earmarked in the state Budget for the preliminary works of the project, which is being conceived as a centre for the study and research of literature, cinema and various art forms rather than merely a memorial.
The minister was speaking after visiting the late writer's residence here and meeting his family members, according to an official statement.
Describing it as the country's largest cultural park, Vishnunadh said the project, coming up in Kozhikode, would be the first of its kind in the country and is envisioned as a knowledge hub for literature, culture and the arts.
The proposed park will feature a history and literature museum, a library, bookshop, an art gallery, a cinema theatre, a sound museum of writers, and facilities for workshops on short films and documentaries.
Hotels, guest houses and a food court will also be developed to accommodate writers, filmmakers and other visitors from India and abroad, he said.
The park will serve as a knowledge hub showcasing history, literature and culture to future generations, Vishnunadh said.
Legendary Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, who elevated the art of Malayalam storytelling to unparalleled heights through his literary works, died on December 26, 2025, at the age of 91.
The minister also said an academy, announced in the name of singer Umbayi, would be established during the current financial year.
The Kozhikode District Collector has been entrusted with identifying land for both the cultural park and the academy, the statement said.
Vishnunadh was received at M T's residence by the writer's wife, Kalamandalam Saraswathy, daughter and classical dancer Aswathy Nair, and former minister M K Muneer, it added.
