Devi Ninte by Madhu Balakrishnan

The Devi Ninte album has several strong tracks, but Devi Ninte is the one most listeners come back to first. Pyaari P sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The vocal on Devi Ninte is among the better performances Madhu Balakrishnan has committed to record. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Devi Ninte, making it as much a performance as a song.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. Listeners have described the experience of Devi Ninte differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

At 4:36, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. The staying power of Devi Ninte is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.