NAGORE HANIFA

ISAI MURASU ESMAIL MOHAMED HANIFA

In Tamil nadu he was known as Isai Murasu.  He was a member of DMK Party. He was a man of Tamil Muslim devotional music and political anthems.   His birth place was Nagore, the place famous for the Dharga and even for music.  In Nagore there were more musicians and singers. 
Gifted Singer

Nagore Hanifa had been singing in the stage up to three to four hours, which was unimaginable now for a singer.  I heard his music at my age of 17, probably pre onset of 1971 election in my native village Viravanallur in Tirunelveli district, organized by the DMK Party in the Kanthimathi Theatre. He humbly begun with the devotional song and followed his famous party songs “Oadi varugiran Udhayasooriyan”, “Kallakkudi konda Karunanidhi vaazhgave”, “Nee engae senrai Anna” and “Azhaikkinrar Anna”.  These were songs, still used by the DMK to raise their party morale.  At that time, though, I was a staunch supporter of Kamarajar, his full throat ed magnetic voice penetrated my heart.  My ears were filled with his enchanting, thundering, thrilling and wondering

 voice.  His voice used to hit the high and base notes with equal ease. 
Politcs  
Mr Hanifa was familier with all DMK and DK leaders, his proximity to leaders such as Periyar, Anna and Kalaigner. His son told that his first concert at Tiruvaluntur (which is incidently I think the Kamban’s birth place) at the age of 13, on a bullock cart which means both for band transport and for stage also. 
Early hood Days

Mr Hanifa used to sing before the lecture meetings organised by Dr Karunanidhi, without any musical accompaniment or payment, to attract the crowds on the dry riverbed of the Odampokki river in Tiruvarur,” said Ali, his son. 
DMK State-Level Conference

Hanifa used to sing continuously in the State-level DMK conference since 1949.  He missed Tenth State level DMK conference, held at Tiruchi, due to his ill health.

 

 
Most of Mr Hanifa’s songs were universally accepted.  

God, the Great His song “Iraivan Idam Kai Yenthungal was being sung everywhere.  I used to hear the same song whenever I was in some kind of uneasiness, simply not only because the tune and lyrics were so apt yet catchy but also it heal the mind. 

Demise

He died on 8 April 2015.