Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum by Roy Puthur

Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum arrived from the Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. Traditional's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Roy Puthur's vocal here has a quality that is difficult to describe but impossible to miss — it simply feels true. Hearing Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. 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 Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum — just 3:01 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. The staying power of Cheriyon Thottu Evareyum is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.