Orupadu by Shanid

Orupadu arrived from the Orupadu album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. Behind the melody is the work of Noushad Parannur, whose composition choices give Orupadu its distinctive texture.

Shanid inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. Hearing Orupadu without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Orupadu.

In 2020, Malayalam produced many songs, but Orupadu was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. There is a quality to Orupadu that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

Running to 4:52, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Orupadu is a reminder that the best music does not need to announce itself. It only needs to be heard.