Janmathil by Ashraf Perumukha

Janmathil arrived from the Janmathil album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. What makes Janmathil musically distinctive is the composition by Hussain Cheroor, which balances simplicity with depth.

Every line Ashraf Perumukha sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Janmathil a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

Running to 3:05, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Janmathil are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.