Koottam Thettimeyum by Jyolsna Radakrishnan

There is an honesty to Koottam Thettimeyum that separates it from most Malayalam songs released around the same time. Sunilal Cherthala sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The performance by Jyolsna Radakrishnan is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. Hearing Koottam Thettimeyum without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Koottam Thettimeyum.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Koottam Thettimeyum was among the reasons why. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

The 6:25 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.