Paikoottangal by Kalesh Karunakaran

Kalesh Karunakaran has delivered memorable performances before, but Paikoottangal sits comfortably among the very best. Sudhardhan has a history of strong work, and the music on Paikoottangal is among the most memorable of it.

Kalesh Karunakaran brings a warmth to Paikoottangal that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Paikoottangal finds its musical expression here — Paikoottangal is where the film's heart beats loudest.

By the end of 2020, Paikoottangal had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. There is no right time to listen to Paikoottangal. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

Running to 5:22, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, at the end of it, a very good song — and sometimes that is the only explanation that matters.