Poovachal Khader was a prolific writer who created beautiful imagery: Rafeeq Ahamed

Poovachal Khader

, who penned classics in the 1980s and 90s such as

Anuragini Itha Enn

(Oru Kudakkeezhil), Shararanthal Thiri Thaazhhum (Kayalum Kayarum) and Poomaaname (Nirakkoottu) among others, passed away yesterday due to COVID-related complications. The prolific poet, 72, had penned over 1,000 songs for about 300 films. His last work was for 2011 romantic album Meghamalhar.

Lyricist

Rafeeq Ahamed

notes that Poovachal Khader was an indispensable name in Malayalam film music of a time. “He was such a prolific writer who has created some beautiful imagery,” says the award-winning lyricist. “He wrote songs in a time when the style of music in the industry was seeing a changing trend, with the focus being on composition and lyrics were slipping in importance. So his talent was not fully tapped by Mollywood.”

Yet he proved that he was a good poet, says Rafeeq Ahamed, through songs such as

Natha Nee Varum

Kalocha (Chamaram) and Mazhavillin Ajnaathavaasam (Kaattu Vithachavan). “In these tracks, he was able to bring a different kind of poetry that was not seen in other songs. But I feel that the trend of those times was not suited to his skills, and because of this, some of his songs were not so alluring. But he has gifted some great evergreen songs to Malayalam,” he says.

If he had to pick his favourite Poovachal Khader song, it would be Christian devotional song Nee Ente Prarthana Kettu, says Rafeeq Ahamed. “Devotional songs largely have sorrowful lyrics saying ‘you don’t answer my prayers’, but here was a song that said, ‘you have listened to my prayers’. It was a rare song of gratitude. Also, Mazhavillin Ajnaathavaasam is a distinctively different song, which I like,” he says.

Rafeeq Ahamed says that he, unfortunately, did not have many occasions to interact with the late lyricist, but the latter struck him as a down-to-earth person. “I had met him only a couple of times. When you interact with cinema personalities, you feel that mostly they are in their own world, but Poovachal Khader came across as a simple person, who did not have the airs of someone who had written so many film songs,” he says.