�Nagore� Saleem, a famous poet and Kalaimamani awardee, passed away in Nagore town on Saturday. He was 77. Hailing from the dynasty of Vanna Kalanjiyam poets, Saleem penned as many as 7,500 Islamic devotional songs.
 
A majority of the songs rendered by �Nagore� E. M. Haneefa were composed by late Saleem. He had also penned songs and dialogues for movies and dramas. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M. Karunanidhi and late MGR had hailed his contribution to Tamil language and literature.