Ishtamanu by Rafeeq

Ishtamanu is one of those rare Malayalam tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. Credit goes to Haneefa AR Nagar for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

The vocal on Ishtamanu is among the better performances Rafeeq has committed to record. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Ishtamanu finds its musical expression here — Ishtamanu is where the film's heart beats loudest.

By the end of 2020, Ishtamanu had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. The song rewards full attention but also works as company in the background — a flexibility that most tracks never achieve.

Running to 4:00, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Ishtamanu are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.