Dul Dulkkuthirame by Athira

Not every song from Dul Dulkkuthirame lingers, but Dul Dulkkuthirame is the one that stays. Bappu Velliparamba's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Dul Dulkkuthirame, Athira clearly belongs in the second group. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Dul Dulkkuthirame, making it as much a performance as a song.

By the end of 2020, Dul Dulkkuthirame had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. There is a quality to Dul Dulkkuthirame that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

The concision of Dul Dulkkuthirame — just 4:50 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.