Prema Thee Kolli by Shafi Kollam

Prema Thee Kolli arrived from the Prema Thee Kolli album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. The arrangement here is the work of Ali Mangad, and it shows genuine craft in how it builds and releases.

Shafi Kollam brings a warmth to Prema Thee Kolli that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. For fans of a talented ensemble cast, Prema Thee Kolli is one of those songs that immediately conjures specific scenes and emotions.

By the end of 2020, Prema Thee Kolli had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

The concision of Prema Thee Kolli — just 4:24 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. For anyone yet to hear Prema Thee Kolli, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.