Tollystory at 18:57, 9 April 2026

2026-04-09T18:57:35Z

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{{Short description|Indian musical artist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = V. M. Kutty
| image = Vm kutty 2.jpg
| caption = V. M. Kutty performing in 2012
| birth_name = Vadakkungara Mohammed Kutty
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|04|16}}
| birth_place = [[Pulikkal]], [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|10|13|1935|04|16}}
| death_place = [[Kozhikode]], Kerala, India
| genre = [[Mappila songs]]
| occupations = Singer, songwriter, composer, teacher
| spouse = Amina<br />Sulfath
| years_active = 1954–2021
| label = {{Flatlist|
* [[Tharangini Records|Tharangini]]
* [[Magnasound]]
}}
}}
'''Vadakkungara Mohammed Kutty''' (known as '''V. M. Kutty'''; 16 April 1935 – 13 October 2021) was an Indian [[Mappila songs|Mappilapattu]] singer, writer and composer. Also known as the ''[[Sultan]] of Mappilapattu'',<ref name="toi">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-14 |title=V M Kutty, the Sultan of Mappilapattu, passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/v-m-kutty-the-sultan-of-mappilapattu-passes-away/articleshow/87004995.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424094851/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/v-m-kutty-the-sultan-of-mappilapattu-passes-away/articleshow/87004995.cms |archive-date=2022-04-24 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> he is often credited with having performed Mappila songs on stage for the first time in 1957.<ref name="hinduold">{{Cite web |date=2007-03-16 |title=Advocate of Mappilappattu |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/16/stories/2007031600640300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326073608/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/16/stories/2007031600640300.htm |archive-date=2007-03-26 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

Kutty was known to be one of the most popular figures among mainstream Mappilapattu singers. He had also proven talent as a lyricist. Kutty played a major role in popularizing the Mappilappattu genre through experimenting with the traditional music stream.<ref name="onmanorama">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=VM Kutty, doyen of Mappila Pattu, dies at 86 |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/13/mappilappattu-artiste-vm-kutty-no-more.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122132632/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/13/mappilappattu-artiste-vm-kutty-no-more.html |archive-date=2022-11-22 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Malayala Manorama|OnManorama]]}}</ref>
He was a member of [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]], [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], [[Kerala Lalithakala Akademi]] and [[Maha Kavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Smarakam]].<ref name="madhyamam1">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=മാപ്പിളപ്പാട്ട് ഗായകൻ വി.എം കുട്ടി അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/mappilappattu-singer-vm-kutty-has-passed-away-857493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813223148/https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/mappilappattu-singer-vm-kutty-has-passed-away-857493 |archive-date=2023-08-13 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref> He was the [[Chair_(officer)#Vice_chairman_and_deputy_chairman|vice chairman]] of [[Kerala Folklore Academy]]. He has also served as an honorary secretary to the [[Maha Kavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Smarakam#Mappila Kala Academy|Institute of Mappila Studies]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=Mappila Pattu exponent VM Kutty passes away |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/asia/mappila-pattu-exponent-vm-kutty-passes-away |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Khaleej Times]]}}</ref><ref name="mathrubhumi">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=Mappilapattu singer V M Kutty passes away |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-songs-song-writer-kozhikode-1.6084929 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]]}}</ref>

He won [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] under the category ''Keraleeya Kalakal'' in 1997. He received Kerala Folklore Academy [[Fellow#Fellowships_as_a_special_membership_grade|fellowship]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-08 |title=Folklore akademi awards announced |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/folklore-akademi-awards-announced/article19242266.ece |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212224200/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/folklore-akademi-awards-announced/article19242266.ece |archive-date=2024-02-12 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> He was conferred with an [[honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] ([[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt]]) by [[Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University]].<ref name="toi" />

==Early life==
V. M. Kutty was born in [[Pulikkal]], a village near [[Kondotty]] in old [[Malabar District]] of [[Madras Presidency]] (present-day [[Malappuram district]], [[Kerala]]) to Vadakkungara Unnein Musaliyar and Ithachukutty on April 16, 1935.<ref name="madhyamam3">{{Cite web |last=Riyas |first=K. P. M. |date=2021-10-16 |title=വടക്കുങ്ങര മുഹമ്മദ് കുട്ടിയെ വി.എം. കുട്ടിയാക്കിയ പാട്ടുകൾ |trans-title=Songs that changed Vadakkumgara Mohammed Kutty to VM Kutty |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/music/music-feature/vm-kutty-memoir-857612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819191347/https://www.madhyamam.com/music/music-feature/vm-kutty-memoir-857612 |archive-date=2022-08-19 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref name="madhyamam">{{Cite web |date=2017-09-04 |title=വിഎം കുട്ടി - വിളയിൽ ഫസീല അഭിമുഖം |trans-title=Interview with VM Kutty and [[Vilayil Faseela]] |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/music/music-feature/mappila-singers-vm-kutty-and-vilayil-faseela-music-feature/2017/sep/03/327119 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424093155/https://www.madhyamam.com/music/music-feature/mappila-singers-vm-kutty-and-vilayil-faseela-music-feature/2017/sep/03/327119 |archive-date=2022-04-24 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref name='toi' /> He completed his schooling from AMM Lower [[Primary School]], Pulikkal and Government Model Upper Primary School, Kondotty. After passing [[matriculation]] from Government Ganapath Vocational Higher [[Secondary School]], [[Feroke]] and [[Teacher education|TTC]] from Seva Mandir Post Basic Higher Secondary School, [[Ramanattukara]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riyas |first=K. P. M. |date=2021-10-14 |title=ഒരു യുഗം പാടിയിറങ്ങുമ്പോൾ |trans-title=End of an Era |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/opinion/articles/vm-kutty-death-857783 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819165847/https://www.madhyamam.com/opinion/articles/vm-kutty-death-857783 |archive-date=2022-08-19 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref> he began his career as a teacher at AM Lower Primary School in [[Kolattur, Kerala|Kolathur]] in 1957 and then becomes the [[Head teacher|headmaster]] but left the job in 1985 to pursue his passion for singing.<ref name="mathrubhumi" /><ref name="toi" />

Kutty had imbibed the first music lessons from his paternal uncle Unneen and aunt Pandikasala Ottappilakkal Fathimakutty.<ref name="onmanorama" /> For Kerala's [[Muslims|Muslim]] women, it was compulsory to learn the songs written in [[Arabi Malayalam]]. It was Fathimakutty who initiated Kutty into the world of Mappilappattu.<ref name="hinduold" />

==Career==
Mappilapattu are rooted in the folk tradition of Kerala's Muslim community. The songs were traditionally sung in the households of Muslims of [[Eranad]] in connection with occasions such as birth, marriage and death. Kutty was reportedly the first to popularise the songs outside the community and sung them at public events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=VM Kutty, doyen of Mappila songs in Kerala, passes away at 86 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/vm-kutty-doyen-mappila-songs-kerala-passes-away-86-156453 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref> Kutty began his Mappilapattu career by singing for [[All India Radio]], [[Kozhikode]] in 1954.<ref name="hindunew">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=Mapilapattu exponent V.M. Kutty passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mapilapattu-exponent-vm-kutty-passes-away/article36988701.ece |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019142741/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mapilapattu-exponent-vm-kutty-passes-away/article36988701.ece |archive-date=2021-10-19 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

Kutty formed a [[Musical ensemble|music group]] exclusively for Mappilapattu songs in 1957, ''Kutty's Orchestra''.<ref name='toi' /> It was through Kutty's troupe that many women artistes made their stage debut. And one among them was [[Vilayil Faseela]]. She joined the troupe in 1970 and the troupe went to known as ''VM Kutty-Vilayil Faseela Group'', due to the duos popularity.<ref name="madhyamam2">{{Cite web |last=Shabin |first=Muhammed |date=2021-10-13 |title=കല്യാണ വീട്ടിൽ വളർന്ന പാട്ടിന്റെ 'കുട്ടി' |trans-title=Interview with VM Kutty |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/music/music-feature/vm-kutty-interview-857601?infinitescroll=1 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |publisher=Madhyamam Cheppu |language=ml |publication-date=2015}}</ref>

In 1962, Kutty recorded few of his songs and released it through [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]] as [[Phonograph record|gramophone record]].<ref name='hinduold' /> Kutty conducted performances across Kerala and major cities of India. With the [[Kerala Gulf diaspora|Gulf migration from Kerala]] picking up pace in the 1980s, his music programmes were much in demand there. The VM Kutty-Vilayil Faseela pair becomes superhit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=VM Kutty, known for popularising Mappilapattu, passes away at 86 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/Oct/13/vm-kutty-known-for-popularising-mappilapattu-passes-away-at-86-2371135.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> When his first gramophone records of folk songs became a hit, he followed it up with numerous music cassettes.<ref name='toi' />

He penned lyrics for Malayalam movies ''[[Mark Antony (2000 film)|Mark Antony]]'' and ''Poovalliyum Kunjadum''. He had written approximately twelve books on Mappilapattu and its history and cultural and literary traditions. He had composed music for many folk songs, was playback singer for seven movies and also acted in movies ''Ulpathi'', ''[[Pathinalaam Raavu]]'' and ''[[Paradesi (2007 film)|Paradesi]]''.<ref name='toi' /><ref name='onmanorama' /> Kutty has composed songs for the [[K. J. Yesudas|Yesudas]]' [[Tharangini Records|Tharangini]] mappila songs albums ''Mylanchi Pattukal Vol. 1'' (1984) which includes his most popular composition ''Samkrutha Pamagari'' and ''Mylanchi Pattukal Vol. 3'' (1986).<ref>{{Cite web |title=VM Kutty on MSIDb |url=https://en.msidb.org/nonmovies.php?tag=Search&musician=VM%20Kutty&limit=4 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=MSIDb.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shefeek |first=E. P. |date=2021-10-14 |title=മൈലാഞ്ചി പാട്ടുകൾ |trans-title=I have finished studying the song - Yesudas to VM Kutty |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/entertainment/music/vm-kutty-death-857774 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820002958/https://www.madhyamam.com/entertainment/music/vm-kutty-death-857774 |archive-date=2022-08-20 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref>

==Personal life==
V. M. Kutty married Amina and they had eight children. After the demise of Amina he married Sulfath.<ref name='madhyamam3' /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-13 |title=പ്രശസ്ത മാപ്പിളപ്പാട്ട് കലാകാരൻ വി.എം.കുട്ടി വിടവാങ്ങി; മാഞ്ഞൂ, ഇശൽ നിലാവ് |trans-title=Mappilappattu singer VM Kutty passes away |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2021/10/13/mappilappattu-singer-vm-kutty-passes-away.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref>
==Death==
V. M. Kutty died at the age of 86 on 13 October 2021 at Kozhikode. He was under treatment for heart-related ailments.<ref name='mathrubhumi' /> The funeral was held at the Pulikkal [[Mosque|Juma Masjid]] buriyal ground after the body was kept for public homage at [[Maha Kavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Smarakam#Mappila Kala Academy|Mahakavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Mappila Kala Academy]].<ref name='toi' />

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Music of Kerala}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutty, V. M.}}

[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Malabar Muslims]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Arabi Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:20th-century births]]
[[Category:Indian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Kondotty area]]
[[Category:Singers from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Malappuram district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]]

V. M. Kutty - Revision history

Tollystory at 18:57, 9 April 2026