Arikin Arikil by Munna P M, Sithara Krishnakumar, Sooraj Santhosh

Arikin Arikil is one of those rare Malayalam tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. Munna P M, Sithara Krishnakumar, Sooraj Santhosh sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Every line Munna P M, Sithara Krishnakumar, Sooraj Santhosh sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. The song is tied to Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jins Basker, V K Sreeraman, Shine Tom Chacko, Sija Rose, whose presence gives Arikin Arikil a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

When it came out in 2021, Arikin Arikil felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. Arikin Arikil is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

At 3:18, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.