Visually challenged music composer on a roll

Being visually challenged has not deterred Afzal Yusuff from composing chart-busting songs in his four-year career in Malayalam cinema and he has veteran K J Yesudas, Sonu Nigam, Khailash Kher and Shreya Ghosal crooning to his tunes.
Savouring the success of his latest number 'Illathalum Kai Marrumbol' from the recently released Kunchako Bobban starrer 'God For Sale', 36-year-old Afzal, who was blind at birth "like American star Stevie Wonder," says the duet was rendered by another Malayalam playback legend, Yesudas's contemporary, P Jayachandran and Mridula Warrier.
He composed three songs in 'God for Sale' but unfortunately the movie did not do that well.

This year has been fruitful for him as he has composed songs in three films, starting with 'Ithu Pathiramanal,' 'superstar' Mammooty-starrer blockbuster 'Immanuel' and 'God for Sale.'
'Alolum Thenolam' by popular young singer Najim Arshad and Mridula , 'Eriveyil'- Shreya Ghosal (both in Pathiramanal), 'Manathudichathu' (Najim-Mridula in Immanuel) and 'Illathalum' are still among the top ten songs-list.
Reminscing about his entry into the industry, Afzal told PTI that the beginning was through 'Chandranillukku Vazhi' but "It was purely academic, that is meant for film festivals."
"My first commercial project was Prithiviraj starrer 'Calendar' (in 2009). My music was noticed. I did four songs in that."

'Chirakarnna mounam' by Yesudas and Cicily Abrham became hugely popular. Incidentally, the veteran singer selected it as one among his top 50 favourite songs while celebrating his 50 years in the film industry, Afzal said.