Shahjahan Theertha by Shafi Kollam

Shahjahan Theertha 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 Shafi Kollam, Saleem Kodathoor, whose composition choices give Shahjahan Theertha its distinctive texture.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Shahjahan Theertha, Shafi Kollam clearly belongs in the second group. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Shahjahan Theertha a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

In 2026, Malayalam produced many songs, but Shahjahan Theertha was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

In 4:45 minutes, Shahjahan Theertha builds, opens up, and resolves in a way that feels complete rather than truncated. Songs like Shahjahan Theertha are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.