Noted singer Nagore E,M. Hanifa, whose stentorian voice transcended religious lines, died here on Wednesday. He was 97 and is survived by two sons and four daughters.
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, along with party treasurer M.K. Stalin, visited his home in Chennai and paid their last respects. “Our leader broke down as he was a close friend since the inception of the DMK,” said Mr. Stalin.
Hanifa’s voice used to be a powerful draw in DMK meetings and rallies and party cadres roared in excitement when he sang ‘Odi varukiran Udayasooriyan and Kallakudikonda Karunanidhi Vaazhgavey’ and plunged into silence when he used his baritone voice to sing ‘Yengey sentrai yengey sentrai’ to narrate the death of DMK founder C.N. Annadurai.
He lent his voice for a few films including Paava Mannippu in which he sang the song " Yellorum Kondaduvom " along with T.M.Soundararajan, ‘ Un mathama’ in Raman Abdullah and also in Sembaruthi . His song Iraivanidam Kaiyenthungal continues to enchant many .
Born in Ramanathapuram, he settled in Nagore in the composite Thanjavur known for its famous Dargah and as a symbol of religious harmony.
“Hanifa was faithful to his religious beliefs. He was a household name and propagated the ideals of Islam through his songs,” said Iraianban Kuthoos, DMK’s platform singer.
Nagore Hanifa was the DMK candidate for the Vaniyambadi by-election in 2002, but he could not win the seat.
