The man behind some of Mappilapattu’s enduring melodies

Kozhikode Aboobacker, who passed away in Kozhikode aged 80, was a composer of several popular Mappilapattu songs and a musician who belonged to the golden period of music in the city.

He worked along with the legendary composer of melodies in Malayalam cinema, M.S. Baburaj, and had accompanied K.J. Yesudas when he first performed in Kozhikode. There is, in fact, a famous photograph of that show at the Town Hall, in which you could see Aboobacker playing the bongo drums and Baburaj on harmonium, along with Archie Hutton on guitar and C.M. Vadiyil on violin.

Few pictures would speak about Kozhikode’s musical tradition as that picture. What it doesn’t say is the contribution Aboobacker would make it Mappilapattu, a genre of music that continues to enjoy popularity. A few decades ago, such songs were even more popular. Some of those albums – audio cassettes, that is – such as the Kathu Pattu were sold in large numbers.

Among the biggest hits in Mappilapattu were some compositions by Aboobacker. Karayanum parayanum (sung by Yesudas) and Yatheeminathani (K.S. Chithra) were particularly popular. Those songs are among the more melodious in the genre, and were part of the album Mailanchipattukal Vol. 5, released by Tharangini in 1989.

Those days Mappilapattu songs had tremendous following and had shows, led by the likes of V.M. Kutty and Vilayil Valsala (Faseela). And Aboobacker’s songs regularly were rendered in those programmes.

Aboobacker indeed played a role in the growth of Mappilapattu, which has given some quality songs with superb poetry and fine music.