Thu Dec 18 18:38:36 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Veteran Malayalam musician Samji Arattupuzha, known for his innovative use of diverse instruments and ragas in Christian devotional music, has released a new Christmas carol titled “O thappu kottu, thakilu kottu…” The 72-year-old composer, with a career spanning over five decades, has created a nostalgic and joyful soundscape that transports listeners to a Kerala church courtyard. Samji, who started his musical journey with no formal training, has worked with prominent figures in the Malayalam music industry and continues to explore and experiment with music, drawing inspiration from various genres.

News Article:

New Christmas Carol From Veteran Musician Evokes Kerala Christmas Spirit

Kochi, December 19, 2025 – Veteran Malayalam musician Samji Arattupuzha has released a vibrant new Christmas carol, “O thappu kottu, thakilu kottu…,” transporting listeners to a nostalgic Kerala church courtyard. The song, released on YouTube two weeks ago, showcases Samji’s signature style of blending traditional instruments with unconventional musical elements.

At 72 years old, Samji Arattupuzha is a well-respected figure in the Malayalam music scene, boasting a repertoire of over 500 Christian devotional songs. He is known for his experimentation with instruments like the shehnai, sarod, sarangi, and sitar, often incorporating ragas from Indian classical music into his compositions.

“I like to experiment with ragas, too,” says Samji in an interview. “I have used Mukhari, Haimavathy, Kamboji, Parpathy, Anandabhairavi, Bihag and ragamalikas in these Christian devotional numbers, which was not the norm and I enjoyed the challenge of making the songs work.”

“O thappu kottu, thakilu kottu…” which means “Beat the drum, beat the thakil!”, features the voices of Ramesh Murali, OU Basheer, Sreekanth, Nimya Lal, Ashitha Prakash, and Angel Mary. The song’s textured soundscape, incorporating drums and clarinet, creates a joyful and evocative experience for listeners. The song is written and produced by Chev. Kuriakose Thadathil.

Samji’s career began in the 1970s, and he has since worked with many prominent names in the Malayalam music industry. His journey began with no formal training, winning awards at school and college festivals and later gaining experience at Akashavani. Encouraged by a Columbia Music representative, he moved to Chennai where his music career skyrocketed.

Despite composing for seven Malayalam films and television serials, Samji says he has always felt drawn to devotional music due to the creative freedom it offers. His diverse musical oeuvre also includes Hindu devotional songs and Mappilapattu.

Samji is currently working on a set of morning prayer songs and says there is “never a day without music” in his life. “O Thappu Kottu Thakilu Kottu” is now available on YouTube.

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