KOZHIKODE: Hussan Master Kodiyathur remained an obscure figure in his lifetime although he had penned over 2000 Mappila songs. But the music reality shows have catapulted him to fame. His songs have become hits with music lovers and the public. Hussan Master, who died in 2009, had never attended any public functions or programmes, but now the way has been cleared to immortalise his songs.
A group of Mappila song lovers here has started a project to release a CD of the Master's endearing songs. Nizar Babu, who is coordinating the work, said the idea of bringing out a digital repository of his songs was born after several of his songs were sung by participants in music reality shows. Earlier, several singers had approached Master for Mappila songs, especially for various competitions such as school youth festivals. He also had written Kathaprasangam and several songs for political parties.
Hussan Master's songs often moved away from the conventional themes of Mappila songs. He used social realism as a theme. ''When tractor was introduced in Kodiyathur for the first time, Hussan wrote a Mappila song narrating the anxiety of job loss through the eyes of a traditional ploughman. He has also used themes from Hindu mythology and Christianity in the songs,'' he explained.
"About 10 persons have approached us with the songs written by Hussan Master. We plan to release the CD with the help of the Master's children,'' Nizar said.
"Hussan's daughter Nadhiya Khalid and son Shahad Kodiyathur have won several statelevel Mappila song competitions singing the songs written by their father. They will render voice to the songs," Nizar said. The CDs will be made available only for collection purpose, he added.