Kozhikode Aboobacker, maestro of Mappilapattu, dies at 80

Kozhikode Aboobacker, the music composer who shaped the sound of Mappilapattu across thousands of stage performances and recordings, died following treatment for a stroke. He was 80.

The veteran had composed a new melody just two days before becoming bedridden, his passion for music undimmed until the end. Widely known as 'Avukkakka', Aboobacker leaves behind a catalogue of over 3,000 compositions that became staples of Mappila music stage performances, cultural broadcasts, and recorded albums.

A bridge between folk tradition and film music

Aboobacker's work earned him admirers across South India for blending traditional Malabar folk rhythms with intricate melodic structures. Virtually every leading playback singer in Malayalam cinema and light music, including G. Venugopal, Minmini, and M.G. Sreekumar, lent their voice to his melodies.

He began his career as a tablist with the musical troupe of legendary composer M.S. Baburaj. His skill on the tabla made him a favoured rhythm accompanist for masters of Indian film music such as G. Devarajan Master and Bombay Ravi during major recording sessions.

Mappilapattu's enduring voice

Mappilapattu, a traditional Muslim folk song style native to the Malabar region of Kerala, found one of its most prolific champions in Aboobacker. His ability to preserve the genre's essence while expanding its melodic vocabulary brought critical acclaim and secured his compositions a permanent place in the cultural life of the region.

Beyond music, he shared a lifelong friendship with the late veteran actor Mamukkoya, with whom he attended school during his childhood in Kozhikode.

Burial services will take place later the same day. Aboobacker is survived by his children Ghulam Ali, Roshni, Femina, and Sajina, and is predeceased by a son, Fayas.

Source: The Hindu