Manassile Bhakthi by Madhu Balakrishnan

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Manassile Bhakthi, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Behind the melody is the work of Alleppy Ranganath, whose composition choices give Manassile Bhakthi its distinctive texture.

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

In 2020, Malayalam produced many songs, but Manassile Bhakthi was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. Whether it plays on a long drive, during a quiet evening at home, or through earphones on a crowded commute, the song meets the listener where they are.

The 3:46 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. For anyone yet to hear Manassile Bhakthi, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.