Jeevan by Madhubalakrishnan

Some songs are made for a single moment. Jeevan is made for all of them. Saji John's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Madhubalakrishnan inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. a talented ensemble cast are at the heart of Jeevan, and Jeevan captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Jeevan was among the reasons why. There is a quality to Jeevan that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

Running to 5:01, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.