Poothunilkum by Noufal Taj

Noufal Taj has delivered memorable performances before, but Poothunilkum sits comfortably among the very best. Credit goes to Noufal Taj for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

The performance by Noufal Taj is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The connection between a talented ensemble cast and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

2026 marked the release of Poothunilkum, and Poothunilkum was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. Poothunilkum is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

Running to 4:46, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.