K. T. Muhammed | |
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Bust of K. T. Mohammed located in Calicut
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Born | 29 September 1927 |
Died | 25 March 2008 (aged 80) |
Occupation | Playwright |
Nationality | Indian |
Spouse | Zeenath (m. 1981; div. 1993) |
K. T. Muhammed (29 September 1927 – 25 March 2008), popularly known as KT, was a Malayalam playwright and screenwriter. He had scripted about 40 stage plays, including Idhu Bhumiyanu (This is the Earth), considered to be his masterpiece. He had also written screenplay for about 20 films, including Kandam Becha Kottu, Thurakkatha Vathil, Moodupadam, and Kadalpalam. KT was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
K.T. was born in Manjeri in Malappuram district as the eldest son of a policeman and had very little formal education. After schooling he worked as a clerk in the postal department. In 1952 he got the first prize in an all India short story contest for his story Kannukal (Eyes) which was later translated into many foreign languages. He was an active member of Brothers Music Club of Kozhikode which was the training ground of many famous artists. He worked as the editor of Chithrakarthika weekly for a brief period of time. He started Sangamam Theatre a professional drama troup which staged many of his famous plays both inside and outside the state. In 1971, he was nominated as the Chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy and in 1974 as Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation. He married to actress Zeenath and that relation ended in divorce. They couple has a son Jithin.
He died on March 25, 2008 at Pavangad, Kozhikode.
His plays celebrate the values of basic human dignity which transcend the barriers of religion or community.