Kavitha Ezhuthunnu by Sooraj Santhosh, Bijibal

Sooraj Santhosh, Bijibal has delivered memorable performances before, but Kavitha Ezhuthunnu sits comfortably among the very best. The production by Bijibal is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

Sooraj Santhosh, Bijibal delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. Hearing Kavitha Ezhuthunnu without thinking of Kunchacko Boban, Aju Varghese, Joju George, Anu Sithara, Muthumani is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Kavitha Ezhuthunnu.

By the end of 2017, Kavitha Ezhuthunnu had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. Listeners have described the experience of Kavitha Ezhuthunnu differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

At 4:11, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. Songs like Kavitha Ezhuthunnu are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.