Pularaan Neram by Sooraj Santhosh

Few songs from 2019 have held their ground as well as Pularaan Neram, a track that keeps finding new audiences. The music, composed by Bijibal, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

Every line Sooraj Santhosh sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. Hearing Pularaan Neram without thinking of Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kendy Zirdo, Soubin Shahir is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Pularaan Neram.

The song dates from 2019, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. Listeners have described the experience of Pularaan Neram differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 3:26, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Pularaan Neram is a reminder that the best music does not need to announce itself. It only needs to be heard.