Mehaboobul Baqiya by Asharaf Koduvally

Mehaboobul Baqiya is one of those rare Malayalam tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. Credit goes to for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

Asharaf Koduvally brings a warmth to Mehaboobul Baqiya that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. Hearing Mehaboobul Baqiya without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Mehaboobul Baqiya.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Mehaboobul Baqiya was among the reasons why. The emotional register of Mehaboobul Baqiya is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

The 5:21 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. For anyone yet to hear Mehaboobul Baqiya, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.