Aarum Ninakkatha by Shibu John

Aarum Ninakkatha arrived from the Aarum Ninakkatha album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. Thomas Painadath's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Shibu John's vocal here has a quality that is difficult to describe but impossible to miss — it simply feels true. The connection between a talented ensemble cast and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

By the end of 2020, Aarum Ninakkatha had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. Whether it plays on a long drive, during a quiet evening at home, or through earphones on a crowded commute, the song meets the listener where they are.

The concision of Aarum Ninakkatha — just 5:12 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. The staying power of Aarum Ninakkatha is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.