Palatharam by Althwaf

The Palatharam album has several strong tracks, but Palatharam is the one most listeners come back to first. T K Abu built the instrumental foundation carefully here — every element earns its place in the mix.

The voice of Althwaf carries Palatharam effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Palatharam finds its musical expression here — Palatharam is where the film's heart beats loudest.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Palatharam was among the reasons why. Whether it plays on a long drive, during a quiet evening at home, or through earphones on a crowded commute, the song meets the listener where they are.

The 4:17 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. Songs like Palatharam are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.