Ilam Pullikuyile by Edappal Viswan

Ilam Pullikuyile is one of those rare Malayalam tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. Pyaari P has a history of strong work, and the music on Ilam Pullikuyile is among the most memorable of it.

The performance by Edappal Viswan is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. a talented ensemble cast gave the film its soul, and Ilam Pullikuyile is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Ilam Pullikuyile was among the reasons why. The emotional register of Ilam Pullikuyile is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

Running to 4:51, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Ilam Pullikuyile has earned its place in the catalogue of Malayalam music that genuinely matters. The listeners who found it early already knew.