The voice of Kerala's Mappila songs, Eranholi Moosa dies at 75

Moosa had sung the "Manikya Malar" Mapilla song popularised in the film 'Oru Adaar Love' on many stages.

news Obituary

Three months after clearing the fake news about his death, Malayali singer Eranholi Moosa passed away on Monday. He died at his home in Thalassery after a month long treatment at a hospital in Kozhikode for a lung ailment. He was 75 years old.

Eranholi Moosa is most known for the Mappila songs he performed on stages in India and the Gulf countries. He has performed in Gulf countries more than 300 times. The song "Manikya Malar" that appeared in the movie Oru Adaar Love and became really popular following actor Priya Prakash Varrier’s famous wink, has been sung a lot by Moosa on various stages.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condoled the death of Eranholi Moosa, saying he has played an important role in popularising Mappila songs.

Born Valiyakathu Moosa, he became known after the place he came from -- Eranholi near Thalassery. He learnt classical music under Sharathchandra Marar for two years, after which musician Raghavan Master recommended him to sing for Akashavani.

He has sung quite a few popular Mappila songs like "Mailanji Arachallo", "Kettukal Moonum Ketti" among hundreds of others. He has also sung for the theatre and acted in the movie Gramaphone as an old musician running a forgotten music store. Moosa played a big role in taking Mappila songs to the people.

It was in January that a fake story spread on social media about Moosa’s death. He came on a Facebook video to say that he was alive and that those who were spreading the false news about his death should be brought before the law.

But afterwards, Moosa fell ill and reportedly lost his ability to speak. On the advice of doctors, he was shifted from the hospital to his home in Thalassery a week ago.