At a time when regional and local forms of art are being spotlighted, Al Mubarak Koyilandi from Kozhikode, comes into focus for the work the group has done to revive muttippattu, a traditional musical art form. The blend of modernity and tradition ensures the resonance of their music with youngsters and seniors alike. Al Mubarak Koyilandi is a 40-year-old institution, home to a team of 25 boys and men, teens and those in their mid-twenties, where traditional performing arts, such as kolkali, and martial arts, like kalaripayattu, are taught.
About a year and a half ago, they incorporated muttipaattu, a Mappila folk performance art typically sung at wedding nights, into their repertoire, which has found them many fans and appreciation on social media.
All the members of Al-Mubarak
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Founders and cousins, Mufeed VM and Shamil PT, both 25, sculpted this dynamic team with local artists they have known since childhood or through their institution. Mufeed VM has been a stunt choreographer for the past three and a half years, in films such as Aavesham and Bagheera. “As a singer myself, I saw potential in kalari and kolkali artists, and I could not let their talent go unnoticed,” said Shamil. Shamil’s father, VK Hameed Gurukkal, a 2023 Kerala Folklore Award recipient for kalaripayattu, and his brother, VK Abbas Gurukkal, both Kalari masters for the past 40 years, guided them to this success with their understanding of the art form, as firsthand troupers.
Muttipaattu is a traditional folk performance, usually performed at the mylanchi raavu, which is the day before a Muslim wedding. Where male and female relatives of the bride or groom gather around singing mylanji paattu, oppana paattu or mappila songs while creating rhythm by clapping hands or banging objects like wooden benches and tabletops, getting the name muttippattu, ‘mutti’ means to strike or knock and ‘paattu’ means song.
Although this is a culturally significant art form it has been in the shadows unlike the more popular performances like vattappattu or oppana. Realising the importance of preserving and uplifting this art form, Al Mubarak has endeavoured to revive and reconstruct it by incorporating modern instruments, such as the clap box and triple drum into the lineup of instruments. Last year an all-Kerala muttipaattu competition was held in Kasaragod, proof of the love and support this traditional art form is beginning to receive.
How it is performed
On stage, two lead singers open with their signature humming technique, drafted by Salahudheen, a 24-year-old local artist from Koyilandi, where he takes lyrics from the Anupallavi of the song and applies his artistry to develop a soft and soothing therapeutic opening. This is followed by a triple drumming performance by 16-year-old Sayand Santhosh, who has captivated the audience with his charm and polished performance. This will be accompanied by a clap box or cajon, used to replicate the sound of banging on a wooden surface and a timer, a circular instrument generally used to set the song’s timing. All these instruments layer in as the singers clap and sing along. They usually perform mappila and oppana songs and other Malayalam and Hindi classics.
Their popular songs include Pathimakkathudhithulla malaralle (a Mappila pattu) and Dagabaaz re from Dabangg 2, among other old Malayalam film songs, such as Ezhaam Baharinte, which is exceptionally appreciated by the audience for Salahudheen’s composition.
Al Mubarak performs at wedding ceremonies and college events across Kerala. Occasionally, they do street shows on Kappad and Kozhikode beaches as well as on local trains, where the public gets to enjoy their performances for free. “Their performance was so good that I didn’t want to step off the train at my station,” said Hana Nasreen, a student, who was on a train where they performed. With the assistance of DMA Kalari Dubai, an extension of their own Kalari institution, they performed a live show at the 2025 Mamukkoya Fest in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Folklore Society.
Practising in their free time, meeting at the Kalari institution, Al Mubrarak Koyilandi has grown from 18 local performers to an energetic and talented team of 25 which has left their signature across Kerala’s 14 districts. Through their dedication and hard work, this age-old tradition still breathes, fascinating audiences of all ages equally.
Published – January 09, 2026 02:24 pm IST