Kozhikode Aboobacker, a veteran composer associated with Mappilapattu, passes away at the age of 80. He is credited with composing more than 3,000 songs and is described by outlets as a prolific contributor to the traditional Muslim folk song form native to Kerala’s Malabar region.
The reports say he worked across cultural circles in South India. One account notes that he collaborated with Malayalam cinema’s composer M.S. Baburaj and accompanied K.J. Yesudas during an early performance in Kozhikode. Other coverage emphasizes his reputation in the Mappila music tradition, including the way he mentored or interacted with younger performers, with one outlet citing his help for a young Vijay Yesudas’s recording.
While the sources differ in the specific anecdotes they highlight—such as collaborations with cinema composers or early performances with prominent singers—they converge on his standing as a leading figure in Mappilapattu and the size of his musical output.
