Mappilapattu Composer Kozhikode Aboobacker Dies at 80

Kozhikode Aboobacker, a well-known composer of Mappilapattu songs, has died in Kozhikode. He was 80. The musician was part of the city's celebrated golden period of music, a time when Kozhikode was a vibrant hub of cultural activity.

Aboobacker collaborated with M.S. Baburaj, the legendary Malayalam cinema composer, and accompanied playback singer K.J. Yesudas during his first performance in Kozhikode. A famous photograph from that Town Hall concert shows Aboobacker on bongo drums, with Baburaj on harmonium, Archie Hutton on guitar, and C.M. Vadiyil on violin — a snapshot that captures the city's rich musical heritage.

His own compositions, however, left a lasting mark on Mappilapattu, a genre that blends Islamic and Malayali folk traditions. Songs like Karayanum parayanum, sung by Yesudas, and Yatheeminathani, rendered by K.S. Chithra, became major hits. Both were featured on the 1989 album Mailanchipattukal Vol. 5, released by Tharangini.

During the genre's peak decades, Mappilapattu albums such as the Kathu Pattu cassettes sold in large numbers. Live shows led by artists like V.M. Kutty and Vilayil Valsala (Faseela) drew huge audiences, and Aboobacker's songs were regularly performed at these events.

His work contributed significantly to the growth of Mappilapattu, a genre known for its poetic lyrics and melodic richness. Aboobacker's death marks the passing of a key figure in that tradition.