Veteran Mappila music composer Kozhikode Aboobacker died on September 2, 2026, at the age of 80, according to a report published by the Times of India. Widely recognized by the title 'Sultan of Mappila Songs', Aboobacker was credited with composing over 3,000 melodies throughout his extensive career in traditional regional music.
The exact cause of death was not disclosed in the initial reports published by the Times of India.
According to cultural archives in Kerala, Aboobacker played a central role in shaping the Mappila music tradition. His passing is being compared by the Kerala music community to the loss of other historical cultural icons in the Malayalam music industry, such as M.S. Baburaj, who also defined the regional musical framework.
Per assessments from the Kerala music community cited in regional coverage, the death of Kozhikode Aboobacker leaves a significant void in traditional composition. The Mappila music community and cultural archives in Kerala lose a primary source of traditional composition, impacting the ongoing preservation and documentation of the genre.
