Aalangal by Althwaf

There is an honesty to Aalangal that separates it from most Malayalam songs released around the same time. T K Abu sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The voice of Althwaf carries Aalangal effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Aalangal finds its musical expression here — Aalangal is where the film's heart beats loudest.

Released in 2020, it arrived at a time when Malayalam music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. There is no right time to listen to Aalangal. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

Running to 6:42, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The track stands as evidence that Althwaf and T K Abu, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.