Shafeeul Vara by Mubassir

The Shafeeul Vara album has several strong tracks, but Shafeeul Vara is the one most listeners come back to first. Haneefa A. R.Nagar has a history of strong work, and the music on Shafeeul Vara is among the most memorable of it.

Mubassir brings a warmth to Shafeeul Vara that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The connection between a talented ensemble cast and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Shafeeul Vara was among the reasons why. The emotional register of Shafeeul Vara is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

Running to 6:30, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The staying power of Shafeeul Vara is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.