Rab Rab Rab by Shankar Mahadevan, Suchismitha, Sithara Krishnakumar

Not every song from Rab Rab Rab lingers, but Rab Rab Rab is the one that stays. The production by M. Jayachandran is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

Every line Shankar Mahadevan, Suchismitha, Sithara Krishnakumar sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. Unni Mukundan, Kunchacko Boban, Samrutha Sunil, Meera Nandan, Manoj K Jayan gave the film its soul, and Rab Rab Rab is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

The 2012 release gave fans something to hold onto — a track built for repeated listening rather than a single play. There is no right time to listen to Rab Rab Rab. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

Running to 4:36, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Rab Rab Rab are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.