Kadakannil by Mansoor Ibrahim

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Kadakannil, a track that keeps finding new audiences. What makes Kadakannil musically distinctive is the composition by Mansoor Ibrahim, Shefeek Rahman, which balances simplicity with depth.

The vocal on Kadakannil is among the better performances Mansoor Ibrahim has committed to record. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Kadakannil, making it as much a performance as a song.

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

Running to 3:21, 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.