Once Upon A Time In Ranni by James Thakara

The Once Upon A Time In Ranni album has several strong tracks, but Once Upon A Time In Ranni is the one most listeners come back to first. The production by Prashant Pillai is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

What sets this recording apart is how James Thakara handles the emotional weight — never overplaying, never holding back. The connection between Aju Varghese, Lena and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

Released in 2020, it arrived at a time when Malayalam music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. There is a quality to Once Upon A Time In Ranni that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

Running to 4:11, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The staying power of Once Upon A Time In Ranni is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.