Kani Kaananam by Perumbavoor G Raveendranath, M.G. Sreekumar

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Kani Kaananam, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Perumbavoor G Raveendranath, M.G. Sreekumar has a history of strong work, and the music on Kani Kaananam is among the most memorable of it.

The performance by Perumbavoor G Raveendranath, M.G. Sreekumar is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. Hearing Kani Kaananam without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Kani Kaananam.

2020 marked the release of Kani Kaananam, and Kani Kaananam was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 6:09, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The staying power of Kani Kaananam is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.