Ohm Namasivaya by Madhu Balakrishnan

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Ohm Namasivaya, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Raveendran Master sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Madhu Balakrishnan brings a warmth to Ohm Namasivaya that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Ohm Namasivaya, making it as much a performance as a song.

2020 marked the release of Ohm Namasivaya, and Ohm Namasivaya was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. There is no right time to listen to Ohm Namasivaya. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

In 3:55 minutes, Ohm Namasivaya builds, opens up, and resolves in a way that feels complete rather than truncated. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.