Bali Bali Baahubali by Yazin Nizar, Vijay Yesudas, Shweta Mohan

Bali Bali Baahubali is the kind of song that earns its place in a playlist and then refuses to leave. The music, composed by M. M. Keeravani, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Bali Bali Baahubali, Yazin Nizar, Vijay Yesudas, Shweta Mohan clearly belongs in the second group. a talented ensemble cast gave the film its soul, and Bali Bali Baahubali is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Bali Bali Baahubali was among the reasons why. Listeners have described the experience of Bali Bali Baahubali differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

In 3:31 minutes, Bali Bali Baahubali builds, opens up, and resolves in a way that feels complete rather than truncated. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.