At a time when wars continue to plunge the world into misery, Mumbai-based Kozhikode native musician Salil Hutton and his team are raising a poignant voice against conflict through “Paper Boat”, a music video that captures the fears, loneliness, and heartbreak of children living in the shadow of war. Through this powerful project, the musicians seek to remind the world that childhood remains one of the cruellest casualties of conflict. The Paper Boat music video was released online at 5 PM on Monday (May 25, 2026) at the CS Retreat Centre in Kozhikode, marking a significant cultural moment for the city.
Salil Hutton is the son of Archie Hutton, the celebrated guitarist who won over music lovers in Kozhikode during the golden era of pop music with renditions of songs by legends such as Jim Reeves and Cliff Richard. Archie Hutton’s Hutton’s Orchestra was one of the prominent music clubs in Kozhikode that engaged in friendly musical competitions called “Music Evening” at the YMCA, helping nurture many musical talents from the city.
Salil Hutton has created Paper Boat as a musical album that reflects the innocence, freedom, and fragile beauty of childhood. The work draws inspiration from Pathummayude Aadu by the legendary Malayalam author Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Pathummayude Aadu (Pathumma’s Goat) is a 1959 Malayalam novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer that captures childhood innocence and family memories. The novel’s characters are members of Basheer’s own family, and the action takes place at his home in Thalayolaparambu. Basheer often featured childhood experiences in his work, including moments when he had to bear punishment when actually his brother Abdul Khadar was the real culprit. The album’s thematic connection to Basheer’s work underscores the universal and timeless nature of childhood a theme that resonates deeply with the music video’s anti-war message.
The Paper Boat music video captures the fears of children living in war zones, the loneliness experienced by young ones in conflict areas, and the heartbreak of childhood stolen by violence. Through the project, Salil Hutton and his team remind the world that childhood remains one of the cruellest casualties of conflict. At a time when wars continue to plague various parts of the globe, this music video serves as an artistic protest and a call for peace. Nine-year-old Vihaan T Aneesh, who gained recognition through music reality shows, is also part of the project. Vihaan has been selected for the 4th Round of Kerala State Talent Show 2026, demonstrating exceptional musical promise at such a young age. The involvement of a child artist adds profound authenticity to a song about childhood and war. The recording, mixing, and editing was done by Praveen Makkada at Amar Studio in Kozhikode, located at Ashoka Puram. Praveen Makkada is a well-known sound engineer in Kozhikode’s music industry, having worked on numerous Mappila song recordings and other musical projects at Amar Studio.
Salil Hutton’s Paper Boat is more than just a music video it’s a statement against war, a tribute to childhood, and a call for global peace. Following in the footsteps of his father Archie Hutton, who brought pop music to Kozhikode’s golden era, Salil is now using contemporary music to address pressing global issues while staying rooted in Kerala’s rich cultural heritage and Kozhikode’s literary and musical legacy. The interfaith gathering at the Kozhikode launch event, the involvement of a young child artist, the literary inspiration from Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, and the technical work done at a Kozhikode studio all these elements combine to make Paper Boat a truly meaningful project that represents the best of Kozhikode’s cultural and artistic spirit. As wars continue to devastate parts of the world, Paper Boat reminds us that every child deserves a childhood free from fear, and that music from cities like Kozhikode can be a powerful voice for change.
Read more at: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2026/05/26/paper-boat-music-video-fights-war-salil-hutton-childhood-song.html