Kozhikode’s Al Mubarak group is working towards the revival of muttippattu, a traditional music art form

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Muttippattu troupe Al-Mubarak Koyilandi, which is creating waves connected  societal  media, during a signifier    amusement

Muttippattu troupe Al-Mubarak Koyilandi, which is creating waves connected societal media, during a signifier amusement | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

At a clip erstwhile determination and section forms of creation are being spotlighted, Al Mubarak Koyilandi from Kozhikode, comes into absorption for the enactment the radical has done to revive muttippattu, a accepted philharmonic creation form. The blend of modernity and contented ensures the resonance of their euphony with youngsters and seniors alike. Al Mubarak Koyilandi is simply a 40-year-old institution, location to a squad of 25 boys and men, teens and those successful their mid-twenties, wherever accepted performing arts, specified arsenic kolkali, and martial arts, similar kalaripayattu, are taught. 

About a twelvemonth and a fractional ago, they incorporated muttipaattu, a Mappila people show creation typically sung astatine wedding nights, into their repertoire, which has recovered them galore fans and appreciation connected societal media.

All the members of Al-Mubarak

All the members of Al-Mubarak | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Founders and cousins, Mufeed VM and Shamil PT, some 25, sculpted this dynamic squad with section artists they person known since puerility oregon done their institution. Mufeed VM has been a stunt choreographer for the past 3 and a fractional years, successful films specified arsenic Aavesham and Bagheera. “As a vocalist myself, I saw imaginable successful kalari and kolkali artists, and I could not fto their endowment spell unnoticed,” said Shamil. Shamil’s father, VK Hameed Gurukkal, a 2023 Kerala Folklore Award recipient for kalaripayattu, and his brother, VK Abbas Gurukkal, some Kalari masters for the past 40 years, guided them to this occurrence with their knowing of the creation form, arsenic firsthand troupers.

Muttipaattu is simply a accepted people performance, usually performed astatine the mylanchi raavu, which is the time earlier a Muslim wedding. Where antheral and pistillate relatives of the bride oregon groom stitchery astir singing mylanji paattu, oppana paattu oregon mappila songs portion creating bushed by clapping hands oregon banging objects similar woody benches and tabletops, getting the sanction muttippattu, ‘mutti’ means to onslaught oregon sound and ‘paattu’ means song.

Although this is simply a culturally important creation signifier it has been successful the shadows dissimilar the much fashionable performances similar vattappattu oregon oppana. Realising the value of preserving and uplifting this creation form, Al Mubarak has endeavoured to revive and reconstruct it by incorporating modern instruments, specified arsenic the clap container and triple drum into the lineup of instruments. Last twelvemonth an all-Kerala muttipaattu contention was held successful Kasaragod, impervious of the emotion and enactment this accepted creation signifier is opening to receive.

How it is performed

On stage, 2 pb singers unfastened with their signature humming technique, drafted by Salahudheen, a 24-year-old section creator from Koyilandi, wherever helium takes lyrics from the Anupallavi of the opus and applies his artistry to make a brushed and soothing therapeutic opening. This is followed by a triple drumming show by 16-year-old Sayand Santhosh, who has captivated the assemblage with his charm and polished performance. This volition beryllium accompanied by a clap container oregon cajon, utilized to replicate the dependable of banging connected a woody aboveground and a timer, a circular instrumentality mostly utilized to acceptable the song’s timing. All these instruments furniture successful arsenic the singers clap and sing along. They usually execute mappila and oppana songs and different Malayalam and Hindi classics. 

Their fashionable songs see Pathimakkathudhithulla malaralle (a Mappila pattu) and Dagabaaz re from Dabangg 2, among different aged Malayalam movie songs, specified arsenic Ezhaam Baharinte, which is exceptionally appreciated by the assemblage for Salahudheen’s composition.

Al Mubarak performs astatine wedding ceremonies and assemblage events crossed Kerala. Occasionally, they bash thoroughfare shows connected Kappad and Kozhikode beaches arsenic good arsenic connected section trains, wherever the nationalist gets to bask their performances for free. “Their show was truthful bully that I didn’t privation to measurement disconnected the bid astatine my station,” said Hana Nasreen, a student, who was connected a bid wherever they performed. With the assistance of DMA Kalari Dubai, an hold of their ain Kalari institution, they performed a unrecorded amusement astatine the 2025 Mamukkoya Fest successful Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Folklore Society.

Practising successful their escaped time, gathering astatine the Kalari institution, Al Mubrarak Koyilandi has grown from 18 section performers to an energetic and talented squad of 25 which has near their signature crossed Kerala’s 14 districts. Through their dedication and hard work, this age-old contented inactive breathes, fascinating audiences of each ages equally.

Published - January 09, 2026 02:24 p.m. IST

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