Ee Jeevamkurunnine by Madhu Balakrishanan

Ee Jeevamkurunnine works because it does not try to do too much — it finds one feeling and holds it perfectly. The production by Joji Johns is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The voice of Madhu Balakrishanan carries Ee Jeevamkurunnine effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Ee Jeevamkurunnine a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

In 2020, Malayalam produced many songs, but Ee Jeevamkurunnine was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. Listeners have described the experience of Ee Jeevamkurunnine differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

The 5:39 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. The track stands as evidence that Madhu Balakrishanan and Joji Johns, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.