Mayil Vahanane by Vani Jayaram

There is an honesty to Mayil Vahanane that separates it from most Malayalam songs released around the same time. The production by Aravind Siddhartha is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

Every line Vani Jayaram sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. a talented ensemble cast are at the heart of Mayil Vahanane, and Mayil Vahanane captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

Released in 2020, it arrived at a time when Malayalam music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

Running to 4:35, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. For anyone yet to hear Mayil Vahanane, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.