Nagore Esmail Mohammed Hanifa (25 December 1919 – 8 April 2015) was a Tamil Muslim lyricist, playback singer and politician. He was known as Isai Murasu for his deep stentorian voice.
Early life Esmail Mohammed Hanifa, born on 25 December 1919 in Vellipattinam, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. His father Mohammed Ismail Rowther was from Nagore and his mother was from Ramanathapuram. his maternal great-grandfather Muthu Rowther was a Armory Custodian and Guardian of the Kingdom of Ramnad.
Politics and cinema Hanifa, who spent his early childhood in his mother’s hometown of Ramanathapuram, later went to work for his paternal uncle Abu Bakr Rowther in Tiruvarur. It was during this period, in his early teenage years, that he struck up a friendship with Muthuvel Karunanidhi, who was gaining a reputation for oratory even as a schoolboy Nagore Hanifa penned many devotional songs independently which are widely used in Tamil Nadu, during festivals and marriages. During the 1950s the songs which he sang for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) boosted the fortunes of the party. He was also a film playback singer. Iraivanidam Kaiyenthungal is very well known song from him among all the Tamils. It was written by Kiliyanur, (near Mayiladuthurai) R. Abdul Salam. The lyrics are beyond any specific religion. It is liked by not only Muslims but Hindus and Christians, even today sung by many singers on stages. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential singers of South India and beyond.
Year Film Language Song title Music director Co-singer 1954 Sorgavasal Tamil Aagum Neriyedhu Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy K. R. Ramasamy 1955 Gulebakavali Tamil Naayagamae Nabi Naayagamae Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy S. C. Krishnan 1961 Paava Mannippu Tamil Ellorum Kondaduvom Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy T. M. Soundararajan 1992 Chembaruthi Tamil Kadalilae Thanimaiyile Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1993 Dharma Seelan Tamil Engumulla Allah Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 1997 Raman Abdullah Tamil Un Madhama En Ilaiyaraaja 1997 Vallal Tamil Etti Uthachathamma Deva 1999 Endrendrum Kadhal Tamil Nadodi Nanba Pogaadhe Manoj Bhatnagar P. Unnikrishnan & K. S. Chithra 2002 Kamarasu Tamil Oru Muraithaan Indha Vaazhkaiye S. A. Rajkumar
During the 1970s, he was the member of the now-defunct Tamil Nadu Legislative Council.
Death He died on 8 April 2015, aged 95 .
References
External links
The minstrel from Nagore