Neethan Tamizhan by Haricharan

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Neethan Tamizhan, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Ramesh Vinayakam has a history of strong work, and the music on Neethan Tamizhan is among the most memorable of it.

Every line Haricharan sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. Hearing Neethan Tamizhan without thinking of Santhosh, Vikram Cotah, Sitaraman, Gayathri is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Neethan Tamizhan.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The emotional register of Neethan Tamizhan is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

In 3:01 minutes, Neethan Tamizhan builds, opens up, and resolves in a way that feels complete rather than truncated. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.