Clarinet Theme by M. Jayachandran

When M. Jayachandran recorded Clarinet Theme, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. Behind the melody is the work of M. Jayachandran, whose composition choices give Clarinet Theme its distinctive texture.

M. Jayachandran's vocal here has a quality that is difficult to describe but impossible to miss — it simply feels true. Hearing Clarinet Theme without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Clarinet Theme.

When it came out in 2020, Clarinet Theme felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. There is a quality to Clarinet Theme that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

Running to 1:15, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Clarinet Theme are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.