Beevi Khadeej by Kannur Shareef

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Beevi Khadeej, a track that keeps finding new audiences. O M Karuvarakkundu sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Kannur Shareef delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Beevi Khadeej a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The emotional register of Beevi Khadeej is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

Running to 3:51, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Beevi Khadeej is a reminder that the best music does not need to announce itself. It only needs to be heard.