Book Review: Bear with Me, Amma- Memoirs of M.T. Vasudevan

Namrata reviews prolific writer M.T. Vasudevan’s memoirs, Bear with Me, Amma (Published by Penguin, 2023) originally written in Malayalam and translated by Gita Krishnankutty.

Bear with me, Amma: Memoirs of M.T. Vasudevan is a poignant collection of MT’s (as he is popularly known) works translated into English by Gita KrishnanKutty.

Being one of the most loved and widely read writers in Malayalam, M.T. Vasudevan needs no introduction. He has written in various forms including short stories, essays, novels, travelogues, screenplays, and books for children. Interestingly, his journey into the film industry has been equally gratifying.  He is known to be a prolific screenwriter with close to fifty screenplays to his credit. His movies have won multiple awards including the National Award, State Award, and President’s Gold Medal. MT was awarded the Padma Bhushan (2005) and Jnanpith (1995). He has also received the Kerala Jyoti (2023), the state’s highest civilian honour; the Central Sahitya Akademi Award (1971, 1982, and 1986) and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (1958).