Among many singers in South India with a universal appeal, ‘Christian Murasu’ is long on the panties of great people with origin in the Kaveri Delta region of Tamil Nadu.

In Tamil, a prestigious Minstale Hanifa had a strong relationship with Nagor in Nagapattinam, a prestigious Minstale of Islamic devotional songs, hosting the 16th -century pilgrimage to Sufi Saint Syed Abdul Qadir. It eventually became a prefix for his name.

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government then kicked Hanifa’s centenary year celebrations by naming a road and public children’s park in Nagor.

This is a suitable tribute to a person who had captured the hearts of fans with his specific baritone since the early 1930s.

Even posthumously, Hanifa fan base is growing, as is seen from the number of covered versions of his ‘Irvanidam Kaitungangal’ and his other songs that are available online.

Mohammad Ismail’s three children, a railway worker in Malaysia and Maryam Biwi of Ramanathapuram, Hanifa started singing mainly to support their family.

The singer spent his early childhood in Ramanathapuram, and later went to work for his ancestral uncle Abu Bakr Rothar in Thiruvarur. It was here that Hanifa’s music talent was seen. At the age of 13, his first professional concert set him on a trajectory, which no one imagined.

His son Naushad Ali, located outside Chennai, says, “My father’s voice in Nagor has a lot for the ingestion fodder-US-Sab, for which he used to sing.”

“At that time, it was the practice of taking out a pre-granted procession to the families in the neighborhood to present the groom. A team of young drummers who beat ‘thabs’ will lead the procession, followed by a groom or horse back in a car. My father and his accompaniment will be in the middle, with hosts and guests behind the crowd. He learned quickly by defeating the competition with ‘Thabs’ boys, singing loudly and tune without the help of a microphone. It was a skill that he developed by need, “he says.

One of the most ‘Urs’ festivals organized by Sufi Dargah in Hanifa state was the mainstay. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Naushad, now in his sixties, was about to take care of his father in his later years, and Nagor also presents an outspoken concert in Hanifa style.

Hanifa’s devotion and wedding songs continue to dominate Tamil Muslim social work. His devotional songs were often based on ‘Nasheed’ (sung with a capele or instruments on Islamic mantras) and ‘Nat’ (poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad), refer to Muslim beliefs, history and current events. Some of them were revised to suit the Tamil listeners.

For example, ‘Hasbi Rabbi Jalallah’, is just the first verse in Arabic; The rest of Tamil songs add elements to the history of Ramanathapuram. “It was first recorded for a school ceremony in the 1970s, and I was one of the children who sang the chorus,” Naushad recalls.

‘Maulai Sodum Manmakkle’, ‘Wajga, Wazahga, Wazhava’ and ‘Deen Kula Kane’ were among the songs he presented in marriage concerts, usually a day before Napati or after a wedding reception.

It was a mainstay in most ‘Urs’ festivals organized by Sufi Dargah in the state.

Nagor Hanifa married at the age of 30, and his wife R Roshan Begum took care of six children of the couple in Nagor, while Hanifa made her career.

“We did not get to see our father much while growing up, because he will always be on a tour. At the peak of his career, they will have at least 45 engagement in a month. He rarely rejected any proposal. They were different times, with no marketing, public relations or copyright. Many songs were set to the tunes of the popular film which was re -arranged by his small orchestra. I wonder how he managed his career alone, “surprises Naushad.

Hanifa’s songs were known for his intense songs. He was helped by poets Abidin and Nagor Salim among others.

Sway-sikha Jastro raised tips on Karnataka music from SMA Qadir at Nagor Dargah.

Naushad was tasked with imitating songs and taking care of his father’s correspondence. “What I know about Tamil literary expression and pronunciation is because of my father. If I misunderstood the spelling or grammar, he would rap on my head, “he laughs.

Although he had a unique memory for the song, Hanifa will always take his notebook with him on stage. Naushad said, “If he sees mistakes in singing, he efficiently sings the part that will not notice the audience.”

Nagor Hanifa performed in all types of places – from five -star hotels and modest houses – with the same nature, and never lets the position of his celebrity come on the way. He will also encounter any number – he had no ego, his son says.

Hanifa sometimes lent his voice in Tamil films – in such films Gulebakavali (1955), Pawa Mannipu (1965) and Chambaruthi (1992) – But was consciously kept away from cinema as it was not open to adopt omnipotent names like ‘Kumar’, which some musicians demanded.

“My father used to say that four songs singing as Hanifa in the form of Kumar as Kumar is more satisfactory. Naushad says, “After being on stage in a live concert, he did not appreciate the adaptation of his craft for mild music.

When Hanifa died on 8 April 2015 at the age of 96, a veil fell forever in the era of the HomeSpoon Superstar produced in Tamil Nadu.

Political anthem

On his golden day, Hanifa was known as the ‘Awaaz’ of the Dravidian Munnetra Kazgam (DMK) due to his political songs for the party. DMK leader and former Chief Minister M. His warm friendship with Karunanidhi began in his teenage age and was strong in his lifetime. Some songs sung by him for the party are still used by DMK to boost the morale of party cadres.