Classical Works of

At the age of 20, Moyinkutty Vaidyar composed Badarul Muneer and Husnul Jamal(1872), this is one of the most popular works of Vaidyar. The theme of the poem is affection and love between the daughter (Husnul jamal) of a king and the son (Badrul Muneer) of a minister.they were very close friends from the very begning of their childhood, when they grew up, customs and traditions prevented them from mutual meetings and they were forcefully seperated. Thus they secretly met and decided to leave the country and abandon all the fortunes offered by royal life and to lead a life of their own in a far away country. Unfortunately this conversation and meeting came to the notice of a fisherman called Abuzayyad and therefore, though they left the country, they never met each other. The story took a turn and both of them faced very dangerous as well as tempational situation as a result of the entry of nuemerous human and celestical creations like Jinn/Satan etc. Both lovers successfully faced all difficulties and temptations. Finally they met and got married.

This love story is being interpreted in many ways by scholars. Some of them considered it as a carnal love story. Poets and scholars like Punnayarkulam V. Bappu try to interpret it in a sufistic way. The basic theme of Badarul Muneer Husnul Jamal was narrated to Vaidyar by Persian scholar Nizamuddin Miya. The story was earlier familiar in Urdu and Persian literature. The text contain 85 Ishals.

Badar Padappattu (1876)

The theme of the poem is a well known battle of Arabia, the battle of Badr. This is the first battle between Prophet Muhammad and his enemies of Makkah. It was a battle of do or die as far as the Prophet was concerned. It was a battle for upholding the principles of virtue, a battle between truth and falshood.

When Badar Padappattu was composed by Vaidyar, British hegimony over Malabar was at its peak. They had completed three quarters of a century rule in Malabar. It was a period of confrontation between Mappila Peasants and Jenmis supported by British authorities. Therefore Vaidyr’s Badar Padappattu acted as a catalyst indirectly promoting the interests of poor peasants against landlordism and colonialism. Badar Padappattu became popular in all nooks and corners of Malabar thanks to the efforts of ‘Qissappattu Sangam’ or Padipparayal troups.

The Ishal of Badar Padappattu was in the lips of all labourers, khalassies, porters, sheperds, folks beyond the bounderies of religion and caste. It gave immense relief to the suppressed, exploited classes and under privileged sections of the society. Badar Padappatu enhanced the morale of peasant-fighters against landlords and colonial masters. It offered solace to all.

Badar Padappattu has 106 Ishals(songs) and 140 pages. It is the most popular Mappilappattu among the Mappilas after Muhiyuddin Mala, thousands of copies are being published over the last 140 years.

Uhud Padappattu, another composition of Moyinkutty Vaidyar was composed in 1879 at the age of 27. The battle of Uhud was a battle of failure for Arabian Muslims.Vaidyar took the story of ‘failure’ for composition to teach certain lessons to beleivers and it was composed in a situation of constant and continous failure of Mappila individual fighters against Colonialism and Landlordism. There fore Uhud Padappattu taught them good lessons about the need for planning, Organaisation, Discipline, Leadership etc. It contains 118 Ishals.

Uhud Padappattu (1879)

Malappuram Padappattu (1883)

It was composed in January 13, 1883 and the first edition was published in 1885. The theme of this text is a local confrontation between Mappila Peasants and Para Nambi, the local cheiftain of Malappuram. This fight occured on march 9,1728. Moyinkutty Vaidyar collected the source for his composition through field study. He spent several months at Malappuram and conversed with family members of the victims or Shahids. Malappuram Padappattu or Madanitimala consists of 68 Ishals, 4 Wamb and 1 Kuthira chattom.

Malappuram Padappattu had a significent role in 19th century Mappila Revolts and 1921 Malabar Rebellion. British authorities had located copies of Malappuram Padappattu from the laps of Pookottur Martyrs. Therefore the colonial authorities had proscribed the ‘Padipparayal’(Recite and say ie. public recitation of the poem and its interpretation) programme of Malappuram Padappattu in the Mappila dominated areas of Malabar. It shows the public acceptence of Moyinkutty Vaidyar’s composition among the masses. Even non-muslim communities during that period were familiar with Vaidyar’s war songs and other compositions.

  1. Hijra Kavyam: This is an unfinished composition of Moyinkutty Vaidyar. He completed the composition of 26 Ishals before his death and the work was completed by his father Unni Mammed Vaidyar. The name of the poem is Prophet Muhammad’s well known Hijra(migration) from Makkah to Madinah owing to the oppressions of the Quraysh.
  2. Elippada (Rats’ war): composed at the age of 13 is a verse composition for children.
  3. Saleekath Pada: composed at the age of 14
  4. Karamath mala: composed at the age of 15 is a Eulogy of Sheikh Ishtiyaq Shah II, his patron, spiritual head and mentor.
  5. Salasil Pada: the theme of this work was narrated by famous scholar and sufi Musliyarakath Koyamutti Musliayar, the Qazi of Kondotty Takkiyekkal Juma Masjid. it was composed in 1870 ath the age of 18.
  6. Narthakiyod(To the Dancing Girl): this composition indicates Moyinkutty Vaidyar’s proficency in Sanskrit language. It was composed at Zamorin’s palace in Calicut,when he attended a royal ceremony in which he was impressed by the dance performed by a Lady.

Other Poetic Compositions of Vaidyar

Besides the above mentioned texts there are a number of Kathupattu(letter songs), Kess Pattu, Oppana Pattu, Kolkkali Pattu, Kalyana Pattus composed by the great poet. Most of them lived in the memories of old generation and not printed at all.