Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Malayalam poet and lyricist Poovachal Khader passed away here on Tuesday. He was 72.

Khader had turned positive for coronavirus infection and was being treated at the intensive care unit of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Khader who had been also battling age-related ailments died at 12:15 am. The funeral will be held at Poovachal Juna Masjid on Tuesday.

Khader has written more than 2,000 songs for over 300 films. Many of them are always kept in the hearts of the Keralities, including to hear the footsteps of the Lord (chamaram), in some birth order (rails), Anuragini Ithayan (under one umbrella), Sararanthal Thirithazhum (lake and climb). Khader’s theatrical songs, simple songs and mappila songs are a part of Malayalee music life. He was an engineer in the Public Works Department. He started writing poetry in a manuscript magazine when he was in school. Later, during his college days, he printed poetry in Malayalam and saffron. While working in Kozhikode, he started composing songs for films in 1972, writing songs for the film Kavitha.

Poovachal Khader alias Muhammad Abdul Khader was born on December 25, 1948 in Poovachal near Kattakada in Thiruvananthapuram district.

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