Olakkalu Seelakkalu by Rock Soman, Fejo

The Olakkalu Seelakkalu album has several strong tracks, but Olakkalu Seelakkalu is the one most listeners come back to first. What makes Olakkalu Seelakkalu musically distinctive is the composition by Ishaan Dev, which balances simplicity with depth.

Rock Soman, Fejo brings a warmth to Olakkalu Seelakkalu that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The story told by Sreenivasan, Siddique, Manasa Radhakrishnan in Olakkalu Seelakkalu finds its musical expression here — Olakkalu Seelakkalu is where the film's heart beats loudest.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Olakkalu Seelakkalu was among the reasons why. Listeners have described the experience of Olakkalu Seelakkalu differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 4:27, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.