Eettunovinte Arambham by Fr. Shaji Thumpechirayil, K.G. Markose, Biju Kanjirappally, Minmini, Cicily, Neelima Shiju, Scaria Jacob, Binu Antony, Hector Lewis

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Eettunovinte Arambham, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Fr. Shaji Thumpechirayil sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The performance by Fr. Shaji Thumpechirayil, K.G. Markose, Biju Kanjirappally, Minmini, Cicily, Neelima Shiju, Scaria Jacob, Binu Antony, Hector Lewis is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Eettunovinte Arambham a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

When it came out in 2020, Eettunovinte Arambham felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. There is no right time to listen to Eettunovinte Arambham. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

At 7:30, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.