There were a lot of Christian songs in the pattu literature which were
meant to propagate the Christian Faith. One of the main songs deals with
the life and deeds of St. Thomas. In the songs there is a touch of western
music but the tunes are not all western. There is a very interesting blending
of the folk tunes of Kerala. "Hitta Hinda Teyyakka Timrutai"
forms the rhythmic basis for the lines. It is not the exact metre that
is fixed by the meaningless syllables but only the pattern of rhythm.
These songs were popular among the Christians converted from the lower
castes of Hindu society whereas the aristocratic church songs, especially
those sung in mass. It used to keep stronger ties with the Suriani music.
But slowly these also came to be influenced by the folk tunes.
