The controversy over picturisation of a song sequence in the upcoming Malayalam movie Oru Adaar Love has taken the Mapilapattu lovers across the State by surprise.
The controversy over the song Manikya Malaraaya Poovi , a Mapilapattu originally penned by P.M.A. Jabbar in 1978, could have been avoided, they said.
“Those who worked behind this song in the film could have used any other Mapilapattu. They should have been vigilant against playing into the hands of fundamentalists,” said Moosa Eranholi, veteran Mapilapattu singer whose rendition of Manikya Malaraaya had the widest appeal so far.
- Mapilapattu or Mappila songs are Muslims folk songs popular in Kerala’s Mallapuram. While the lyrics are in Mappila dialect of Malayalam the songs generously use Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Tamil words.
- These songs possess a unique literary format as well as original modes of singing. Love and tenderness were the hallmarks of Mappila songs.
- The Mappila songs are integral part of the Malabar. There is a song for every occasion from marriage to separation, faith to rebellion.
- The earliest known Mapilapattu dates back to 17th Century.
Mr. Moosa finds nothing objectionable either in the song or in the picturisation. “In fact, that winking scene has captured the adolescent romance on a campus in its sublime beauty.
But the movie makers should have cared for the sentiments of the people at large. There are all sorts of people waiting for an issue,” he said.
Veteran Mapilapattu lyricist O.M. Karuvarakundu said that there was nothing much about the song to be made an issue. “We have been listening to this song for the past four decades. Although there have been some minor issues in both the lyrics and its tune, the song courted no controversy so far largely because of its popularity,” said Mr. Karuvarakundu.
Mr. Moosa and Mr. Karuvarakundu shared the feeling that the campus festival song sequence in the film would have been a hit even if any other Mapilapattu had been used in place of Manikya Malaraaya .
“There’s no need for the controversy. The producers have done nothing wrong to the song, either to its lyrics or to its tune. The winking is done by a girl in the audience when the song is rendered,” said Mr. Karuvarakundu.
New culture
However, he added that a new culture was being transmitted by the film and its song sequences. “But we can’t do anything about it. It is ‘chunk’ age,” he said referring to the new generation campus culture Faizal Kanmanam, young Mapilapattu lyricist and trainer, said the controversy was baseless.
“It is true that there are some issues in the lyrics of the song. But the world of Mapilapattu has welcomed this song and loved it largely because of its beautiful tune. And the current dispute over the picturisation of this song in a film is sad,” he said.
Veteran Mapilapattu singer V.M. Kutty too said the controversy was baseless. “The song has not lost its originality. Then why this controversy now?” he wondered.
Young composer Shaan Rahman adapted the 40-year-old Mapilapattu by omitting its second and third stanzas and slowing down the pace of its tune. He also replaced percussion instruments with guitar and introducing some new-gen humming at the beginning and end.
Vineet Sreenivasan’s voice too has lifted the song to a new high in its new avatar.
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