Chenthamara by Haricharan, Mridula Warrier

Not every song from Chenthamara lingers, but Chenthamara is the one that stays. M. Jayachandran sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Haricharan, Mridula Warrier brings a warmth to Chenthamara that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. Hearing Chenthamara without thinking of Mohanlal is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Chenthamara.

2020 marked the release of Chenthamara, and Chenthamara was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

The concision of Chenthamara — just 3:55 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Years from now, Chenthamara will still be the track that plays at the right moment and lands exactly as it did the first time.