Manasinte by Afsal Koothuparamba

Manasinte works because it does not try to do too much — it finds one feeling and holds it perfectly. sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Manasinte, Afsal Koothuparamba clearly belongs in the second group. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Manasinte a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 4:04, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.