Esreeb Naatil by Afsal Koothuparamba

Esreeb Naatil arrived from the Esreeb Naatil album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Afsal Koothuparamba inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. a talented ensemble cast gave the film its soul, and Esreeb Naatil is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

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

At 5:29, 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.