Writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair gave away the All Kerala Mappila Sangeetha Academy Awards for excellence in Kozhikode on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the writer expressed his discontentment over the degeneration of Mappilapattu as an art form.
“Losing its semantic nuances, expressiveness, and rustic innocence, Mappilapattu took a downward plunge,” he said.
It (Mappilapattu) had increasingly become ridiculous with lyrics and unimaginative themes, he said. Lamenting on the degenerative tendencies of the genre of music, including film music, Mr. Nair said Malayalam cinema could not put to good use the creative potential of Mappilapattu after the celebrated songs in Neelakkuyil. Composer Mohan Sithara received the M.S. Baburaj Memorial Award instituted by the academy for the best composer, from M.T. Vasudevan Nair on the occasion. The P. Bhaskaran Master Award for the best lyrics was presented to Rafeeq Ahammed while the Moyinkutty Vaidyar Memorial Award for the Best Mappila Song was given to M.A. Gafoor. Sopanam musician Njeralathu Harigovindan received the G. Devarajan Master Award.
Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb inaugurated the 21st anniversary celebrations of the academy. Cultural programmes, including a Mappilapattu concert led by K.M.K. Vellayil, were staged as part of the programme.
