Kannerilake by Rahana

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Kannerilake, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Bappu Velliparamba's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Rahana brings a warmth to Kannerilake that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Kannerilake a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Kannerilake was among the reasons why. There is no right time to listen to Kannerilake. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The 5:56 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. Years from now, Kannerilake will still be the track that plays at the right moment and lands exactly as it did the first time.