Rahiye by Shahabaz Aman

Rahiye works because it does not try to do too much — it finds one feeling and holds it perfectly. Behind the melody is the work of Shahabaz Aman, whose composition choices give Rahiye its distinctive texture.

Shahabaz Aman brings a warmth to Rahiye that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Rahiye finds its musical expression here — Rahiye is where the film's heart beats loudest.

2020 marked the release of Rahiye, and Rahiye was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. 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 Rahiye — just 4:45 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Malayalam in recent memory — and the numbers agree.