But as his eldest son and chief care-giver Naushad Ali points out, “sometimes a word is enough to trigger a memory.” Much is known about Hanifa’s rise to fame as the ‘voice’ of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and his proximity to leaders such as Periyar, C.N. The prolonged exposure to stage noise has affected his hearing permanently, and he rarely speaks to visitors these days. At 95, ‘Isai Murasu’ Esmail Mohamed Hanifa is a shadow of the man that followers of Tamil Muslim devotional music and political anthems know.

He looks at his son for approval and smiles when he sees the two thumbs-up sign. His white full-sleeved shirt and veshti are crisp and starched. Hanifa’s distinctive voice took him from a humble background to the centre stage in no time, but it is his son who narrates the 95-year-old’s back story The elderly gentleman takes a minute to arrange his lambswool cap on the silver locks lovingly combed by his son. That’s how Hanifa entered into the world of music.Nagore E.M. He was not earning enough to support the family. His father worked in railways in Malaysia. Both his father and elder brother were singers though they didn’t take music as profession. He hailed from Nagore in Nagapattinam district. He also sang many popular Tamil Muslim devotional songs, apart from DMK party songs, in praise of leaders like Karunanidhi. He was a member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Council in the early 1970s. Despite having a strong influence in the party and people, he was not successful in politics. He had close relationship with none other than former CM Karunanidhi and other party leaders like Periyar, C.N. He has played a significant role in popularizing the party among masses. Hanifa rose to fame as the ‘voice’ of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and he has sung many of party anthems. His full name is Esmail Mohammed Hanifa, born on 25 December 1925 in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. Now his son, Naushad Ali is following his legacy and sings for party events. Karunanidhi is an avid fan of Hanifa, who never misses a chance to listen to his songs during the major events of the party. Hanifa was also known as a playback singer. Rani since 1960s to record many political songs for DMK. He associated with noted playback singer K. Hailed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as ' Isai Murasu', which literally means musical drum, he was associated with the party since 1950s. He passed away on April 8, 2015, leaving behind a void no one else can replace.

No major DMK party event is complete without the music concert of Hanifa, and he was actively singing for his party even at the ripe age of around 90. Hanifa was a Tamil Muslim Politician, associated with DMK party.

E m nagoor hanifa songs