Ishkinte Maniyara by Afsal Pallikkal

Ishkinte Maniyara is the kind of song that earns its place in a playlist and then refuses to leave. Credit goes to Rashid Kolathur for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

Afsal Pallikkal inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. On screen, a talented ensemble cast bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

Released in 2020, it arrived at a time when Malayalam music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. The emotional register of Ishkinte Maniyara 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. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.