Nagor to Minstrell

Amongst many singers in South India with a common enchantment, ‘Christian Murasu’ is lengthy on the panties of nice folks with origin within the Kaveri Delta area of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil had a robust reference to Nagor, a prestigious Minstale Hanifa, a prestigious Minstale of Islamic devotional songs, internet hosting the sixteenth -century pilgrimage to Sufi Saint Syed Abdul Qadir. It will definitely turned a prefix for his identify.

Lately, the Tamil Nadu authorities then kicked Hanifa’s centenary yr celebrations by naming a street and public kids’s park in Nagor.

This can be a appropriate tribute to an individual who had captured the hearts of followers along with his particular baritone for the reason that early Thirties.

Even posthumously, the Hanifa fan base is growing, as considered by the variety of coated variations of his ‘Irvanidam Kitungal’ and his different songs which can be obtainable on-line.

Mohammad Ismail’s three kids, a railway employee in Malaysia and Maryam Biwi of Ramanathapuram, Hanifa began singing primarily to help their household.

The singer spent his early childhood in Ramanathapuram, and later went to work for his ancestral uncle Abu Bakr Rothar in Thiruvarur. It was right here that Hanifa’s music expertise was seen. On the age of 13, his first skilled live performance set him on a trajectory, which nobody imagined.

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

“At the moment, it was the observe of taking out a pre-granted procession to the households within the neighborhood to current the groom. A staff of younger drummers who beat ‘thabs’ will lead the procession, adopted by a groom or horse again in a automotive. My father and his accompaniment will probably be within the center, with hosts and company behind the group. He discovered shortly by defeating the competitors with ‘Thabs’ boys, singing loudly and tune with out the assistance of a microphone. It was a ability that he developed by want, “he says.

One of the vital ‘Urs’ festivals organized by Sufi Dargah in Hanifa state was the mainstay. Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Naushad, now in his sixties, was about to care for his father in his later years, and Nagor additionally presents an outspoken live performance in Hanifa type.

Hanifa’s devotion and wedding ceremony songs proceed to dominate Tamil Muslim social work. His devotional songs had been usually based mostly on ‘Nasheed’ (sung with a capele or devices on Islamic mantras) and ‘Nat’ (poetry in reward of Prophet Muhammad), consult with Muslim beliefs, historical past and present occasions. A few of them had been revised to go well with the Tamil listeners.

For instance, ‘Hasbi Rabbi Jalallah’, is simply the primary verse in Arabic; The remainder of Tamil songs add parts to the historical past of Ramanathapuram. “It was first recorded for a college ceremony within the Nineteen Seventies, and I used to be one of many kids who sang the refrain,” Naushad remembers.

‘Maulai Sodum Manmakkle’, ‘Wazag, Wazahga, Wazahgava’ and ‘Deen Kula Kane’ had been among the many songs he introduced in marriage concert events, normally a day earlier than Napati or after a marriage reception.

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

Nagor Hanifa married on the age of 30, and his spouse R Roshan Begum took care of six kids of the couple in Nagor, whereas Hanifa made her profession.

“We didn’t get to see our father a lot whereas rising up, as a result of he’ll at all times be on a tour. On the peak of his profession, they are going to have no less than 45 engagement in a month. He not often rejected any proposal. They had been totally different occasions, with no advertising and marketing, public relations or copyright. Many songs had been set to the tunes of the favored movie which was re -arranged by his small orchestra. I’m wondering how he managed his profession alone, “surprises Naushad.

Hanifa’s songs had been recognized for his intense songs. He was helped by poets Abidin and Nagor Salim amongst others.

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

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

Though he had a novel reminiscence for the track, Hanifa will at all times take his pocket book with him on stage. Naushad stated, “If he sees errors in singing, he effectively sings the half that won’t discover the viewers.”

Nagor Hanifa carried out in all forms of locations – from 5 -star accommodations and modest homes – with the identical nature, and by no means lets the place of his movie star come on the best way. He can even encounter any quantity – he had no ego, his son says.

Hanifa typically lent his voice in Tamil movies – in such movies Gulebakavali (1955), Pawa Mannipu (1965) and Chambaruthi (1992) – However was consciously refrained from cinema because it was not open to undertake all-powerful names like ‘Kumar’, which some musicians demanded.

“My father used to say that 4 songs singing as Hanifa within the type of Kumar as Kumar is extra passable. Naushad says, “After being on stage in a stay live performance, he didn’t respect the difference of his craft for gentle music.

When Hanifa died on 8 April 2015 on the age of 96, a veil fell ceaselessly within the period of the HomeSpoon Famous person produced in Tamil Nadu.

Political anthem

On his golden day, Hanifa was referred to as the ‘Awaaz’ of the Dravidian Munnetra Kazgam (DMK) on account of his political songs for the get together. DMK chief and former Chief Minister M. His heat friendship with Karunanidhi started in his teenage age and was robust in his lifetime. Some songs sung by him for the get together are nonetheless utilized by DMK to spice up the morale of get together cadres.