Kiliye Kiliye by Najmudheen Tanur

Released as part of Kiliye Kiliye, Kiliye Kiliye announced itself as a standout the moment it reached listeners. Credit goes to Sulaiman Tanur for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

The vocal on Kiliye Kiliye is among the better performances Najmudheen Tanur has committed to record. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Kiliye Kiliye a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

The 2020 release gave fans something to hold onto — a track built for repeated listening rather than a single play. The mood of the track shifts subtly as it progresses, giving even a single listen a sense of journey.

Running to 5:06, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Kiliye Kiliye has earned its place in the catalogue of Malayalam music that genuinely matters. The listeners who found it early already knew.