Mallika Poomkodi by Haricharan, Sangeetha, M. Jayachandran

The Mallika Poomkodi album has several strong tracks, but Mallika Poomkodi is the one most listeners come back to first. M. Jayachandran built the instrumental foundation carefully here — every element earns its place in the mix.

The voice of Haricharan, Sangeetha, M. Jayachandran carries Mallika Poomkodi effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The story told by Naren, Meera Nandan in Mallika Poomkodi finds its musical expression here — Mallika Poomkodi is where the film's heart beats loudest.

2016 marked the release of Mallika Poomkodi, and Mallika Poomkodi was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. Some music is background. Mallika Poomkodi demands attention — not aggressively, but in the way a good conversation does.

Running to 4:21, 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 Mallika Poomkodi is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.