If you work with older Malayalam publishing software like CorelDRAW, PageMaker, or legacy Photoshop versions, ML-TT fonts are part of your daily workflow. But even if you’re new to Malayalam design, understanding ML-TT is essential to understanding the full Malayalam font ecosystem.
What Are ML-TT Fonts?
ML-TT stands for Malayalam TrueType — a family of fonts developed in the 1990s and 2000s, before Unicode became the standard for Indian language computing.
ML-TT fonts use a custom ASCII-to-character mapping. This means each key on your keyboard maps to a particular Malayalam character specific to that font — not the standard Unicode code point. This is why ML-TT documents only display correctly when the exact ML-TT font is installed.
Key facts:
- Developed primarily for Kerala’s print/newspaper industry
- Still used by many government bodies, newspapers, and legacy publishers
- Not compatible with modern apps, websites, or mobile devices
- Each ML-TT font family has a unique key mapping
Complete ML-TT Malayalam Font List (60+ Fonts)
Standard Body Text Fonts
| Font | Style | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| ML-TT Karthika | Regular | Newspapers, books |
| ML-TT Revathi | Regular | General publishing |
| ML-TT Aswathy | Regular | Formal documents |
| ML-TT Anjali | Regular | Books, reports |
| ML-TT Nalini | Regular | Magazines |
| ML-TT Ambily | Regular | Certificates |
| ML-TT Indulekha | Regular | Literary publishing |
| ML-TT Sindhu | Regular | Magazine layouts |
Bold / Headline Fonts
| Font | Style | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| ML-TT Kartika | Bold | Headlines |
| ML-TT Surya | Bold | Advertising |
| ML-TT Pournami | Bold | Banners, posters |
| ML-TT Krishnatilakam | Bold | Display text |
Decorative / Display Fonts
| Font | Style | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| ML-TT Villu | Decorative | Titles, cultural posters |
| ML-TT Theyyam | Display | Festival announcements |
| ML-TT Dhanasree | Decorative | Wedding invitations |
| ML-TT Periyar | Display | Political/cultural events |
Traditional / Calligraphic Fonts
| Font | Style | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| ML-TT Kohinoor | Calligraphic | Devotional texts |
| ML-TT Meenakshi | Traditional | Cultural publications |
| ML-TT Sreekrishna | Classical | Temple publications |
Unicode Alternatives to Popular ML-TT Fonts
If you want the same aesthetic but with modern Unicode compatibility:
| If you use… | Switch to (Unicode) |
|---|---|
| ML-TT Karthika | Meera |
| ML-TT body fonts | Noto Sans Malayalam |
| ML-TT display fonts | Karumbi or Baloo Chettan 2 |
| ML-TT calligraphy | Rachana |
| ML-TT literary | Uroob |
How to Use ML-TT Fonts Online — Zero Installation
stylishmalayalamfont.com has built-in ML-TT font support. No installation needed:
- Open the generator
- Select an ML-TT font from the font dropdown
- Toggle MLTT Mode ON — the input switches to ML-TT ASCII key mapping
- Type your text using the ML-TT keyboard scheme
- Download as PNG or SVG — renders with the correct ML-TT glyph map
This is the fastest way to create ML-TT formatted Malayalam designs without installing anything on your computer.
ML-TT vs Unicode Feature Comparison
| Feature | ML-TT | Unicode (Noto, Meera, Manjari…) |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Browsers | ❌ | ✅ |
| WhatsApp / Social | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mobile Devices | ❌ | ✅ |
| Old CorelDRAW / PageMaker | ✅ | ⚠️ Partial |
| Traditional Print Look | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Future-proof | ❌ | ✅ |
| Number of Free Fonts | ~60+ | ~30+ (and growing) |
FAQ
Are ML-TT fonts still being developed?
No. ML-TT font development has effectively stopped. All active Malayalam font development is now in Unicode. However, existing ML-TT fonts continue to work in their native environments.
Are ML-TT fonts still being developed?
No. ML-TT font development has effectively stopped. All active Malayalam font development is now in Unicode. However, existing ML-TT fonts continue to work in their native environments.
How do I convert ML-TT text to Unicode?
Use the ML-TT to Unicode converter tool to automatically remap characters.
Can I use ML-TT fonts in Photoshop CC 2023?
Yes, but you need to use the “Middle Eastern and South Asian” text engine (Edit → Preferences → Type). Alternatively, the Smart Object PNG import method from stylishmalayalamfont.com works in every Photoshop version.
Use all ML-TT fonts online free → stylishmalayalamfont.com