Recent from talks
Mappila songs
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Mappila songs
Mappila songs (or Mappila Paattu) are a folklore Muslim song genre rendered to lyrics, within a melodic framework (Ishal), in Arabi Malayalam by the Mappilas of the Malabar region in Kerala, India. Mappila songs have a distinct cultural identity, while at the same time remaining closely linked to the cultural practices of Kerala.
The songs often use words from Persian, Hindustani, and Tamil, apart from Arabic and Malayalam, but the grammatical syntax is always based in Malayalam. They deal with themes such as religion, love, satire, and heroism, and are often sung at marriages, get-togethers and family functions. Mappila Paattu form an integral part of the heritage of Malayalam literature today and is regarded by some as the most popular branch of Malayalam literature, enjoyed by all Malayali communities in Kerala and Beary-speaking communities of Karnataka.
Mappila songs have been in circulation for over seven centuries, with the first dated work Muhyidheen Mala attributed to Qadi Muhammad in 1607 AD. Thereafter a large number of literary materials were produced in this medium; one authority has calculated that of these more than 1600 items, complete or fragmentary, were known by 1976. Over the centuries, various types of Mappila Pattu were composed, in accordance with the religious and political surroundings in the lives of the Mappilas of Malabar. The early centuries were primarily based on devotional works, while the colonial era was marked by the battle song genre called Padappattu. Various other categories also grew during the centuries with subjects ranging from romantic ballads and marriage songs to philosophical ideas, sea journeys and even flood ordeals.
The earliest known dated works in Mappilappattu are from the 17th century and primarily belonged to the Mala genre.
The Mala genre of Mappila songs, generally written in Arabi-Malayalam script are praises of pious personalities of Islam who were supposed to have gained high spiritual status. Generally, most such works were themed on the lives of Sufi saints (Auliya). Most of these songs narrate "superhuman" deeds of these saints. The songs became popular in an era when Sufism gained a strong foothold amongst the Mappilas. Each Mala often corresponded to the leader of a Sufi order called Thareeqath, who was abundantly showered praises in the poetry, for qualities often well-exceeding the limits of human capabilities. Popular among these are the Muhyidheen Mala, the Rifa'i mala, the Shaduli Mala, the Ajmeer Mala, and the Nafeesath mala. Each of these corresponded to their respective Sufi orders while the last is about Nafeesathul Misriyya, a woman Sufi saint of Egypt more commonly known as Sayyida Nafeesa.
The 17th century also witnessed the composition of other popular works in the Malappattu genre, namely the Rifai Mala (1623) by Ahammadul Kabeer, Uswath Mala (1628) and Valiya Naseehath Mala (1674) by Manantakath Kunhikoya Thangal.
Songs of the 18th century were primarily of the Kissa genre, narrating stories of the prophets of Islam or Sufi saints. Examples of such songs include the Ibrahim Nabi Qissa and the Ibrahim Ibn Adham Kissa. Songs like the Kappappattu and Safalamaala by Shujayi Moidu Musaliyar conveyed ideological messages to the community in the era of post-Portuguese years when the identity and existence of the Mappilas were in a shattered state.
Kunhayan Musaliyar lived in the early 18th century. He authored the popular works titled Nool Mad'h (1737 A.D.), Nool Mala(1785 A.D.) and Kappappattu. Nool Mad'h was a devotional work on Prophet Muhammed with 666 lines composed in 16 different Ishalukal (Ishals). Kappapattu consisted of 600 lines composed in a single Ishal, narrating with wit and humour, the voyage of the human body through the journey of life, portrayed here as a vessel in the ocean voyaging through the seas. The Kappappattu remained hugely popular for centuries, next only to the Muhyiddeen Mala.
Hub AI
Mappila songs AI simulator
(@Mappila songs_simulator)
Mappila songs
Mappila songs (or Mappila Paattu) are a folklore Muslim song genre rendered to lyrics, within a melodic framework (Ishal), in Arabi Malayalam by the Mappilas of the Malabar region in Kerala, India. Mappila songs have a distinct cultural identity, while at the same time remaining closely linked to the cultural practices of Kerala.
The songs often use words from Persian, Hindustani, and Tamil, apart from Arabic and Malayalam, but the grammatical syntax is always based in Malayalam. They deal with themes such as religion, love, satire, and heroism, and are often sung at marriages, get-togethers and family functions. Mappila Paattu form an integral part of the heritage of Malayalam literature today and is regarded by some as the most popular branch of Malayalam literature, enjoyed by all Malayali communities in Kerala and Beary-speaking communities of Karnataka.
Mappila songs have been in circulation for over seven centuries, with the first dated work Muhyidheen Mala attributed to Qadi Muhammad in 1607 AD. Thereafter a large number of literary materials were produced in this medium; one authority has calculated that of these more than 1600 items, complete or fragmentary, were known by 1976. Over the centuries, various types of Mappila Pattu were composed, in accordance with the religious and political surroundings in the lives of the Mappilas of Malabar. The early centuries were primarily based on devotional works, while the colonial era was marked by the battle song genre called Padappattu. Various other categories also grew during the centuries with subjects ranging from romantic ballads and marriage songs to philosophical ideas, sea journeys and even flood ordeals.
The earliest known dated works in Mappilappattu are from the 17th century and primarily belonged to the Mala genre.
The Mala genre of Mappila songs, generally written in Arabi-Malayalam script are praises of pious personalities of Islam who were supposed to have gained high spiritual status. Generally, most such works were themed on the lives of Sufi saints (Auliya). Most of these songs narrate "superhuman" deeds of these saints. The songs became popular in an era when Sufism gained a strong foothold amongst the Mappilas. Each Mala often corresponded to the leader of a Sufi order called Thareeqath, who was abundantly showered praises in the poetry, for qualities often well-exceeding the limits of human capabilities. Popular among these are the Muhyidheen Mala, the Rifa'i mala, the Shaduli Mala, the Ajmeer Mala, and the Nafeesath mala. Each of these corresponded to their respective Sufi orders while the last is about Nafeesathul Misriyya, a woman Sufi saint of Egypt more commonly known as Sayyida Nafeesa.
The 17th century also witnessed the composition of other popular works in the Malappattu genre, namely the Rifai Mala (1623) by Ahammadul Kabeer, Uswath Mala (1628) and Valiya Naseehath Mala (1674) by Manantakath Kunhikoya Thangal.
Songs of the 18th century were primarily of the Kissa genre, narrating stories of the prophets of Islam or Sufi saints. Examples of such songs include the Ibrahim Nabi Qissa and the Ibrahim Ibn Adham Kissa. Songs like the Kappappattu and Safalamaala by Shujayi Moidu Musaliyar conveyed ideological messages to the community in the era of post-Portuguese years when the identity and existence of the Mappilas were in a shattered state.
Kunhayan Musaliyar lived in the early 18th century. He authored the popular works titled Nool Mad'h (1737 A.D.), Nool Mala(1785 A.D.) and Kappappattu. Nool Mad'h was a devotional work on Prophet Muhammed with 666 lines composed in 16 different Ishalukal (Ishals). Kappapattu consisted of 600 lines composed in a single Ishal, narrating with wit and humour, the voyage of the human body through the journey of life, portrayed here as a vessel in the ocean voyaging through the seas. The Kappappattu remained hugely popular for centuries, next only to the Muhyiddeen Mala.