Neelamukil by Veeramani Raju

Neelamukil is the kind of song that earns its place in a playlist and then refuses to leave. Raveendran Thiruvalla 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 Neelamukil, Veeramani Raju clearly belongs in the second group. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Neelamukil, making it as much a performance as a song.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Neelamukil was among the reasons why. 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.

Running to 4:47, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, at the end of it, a very good song — and sometimes that is the only explanation that matters.