Kozhikode Aboobacker, composer and noted Mappilapattu veteran, passes away
Renowned Mappilapattu composer and singer Kozhikode Aboobacker has passed away at the age of 80. He was a celebrated figure in Kerala's traditional folk music scene with a career spanning thousands of compositions.
Why it matters
Aboobacker was a cultural icon in South India, and his death represents a significant loss to the preservation of traditional Malabar folk music.
Noted music composer, singer, and master tablist Kozhikode Aboobacker, affectionately known as ‘Avukkakka’, passed away on Tuesday (September 1, 2026). He was 80.
Aboobacker, widely admired across South India for his prolific contributions to Mappilapattu, a traditional Muslim folk song style native to the Malabar region of Keralam, had been undergoing medical treatment following a stroke. His passion for music remained undiminished until his final days, with the veteran artiste having composed a new melody just two days before becoming bedridden.
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