Sreeyeshunadham by George Nirmal

Not every song from Sreeyeshunadham lingers, but Sreeyeshunadham is the one that stays. Behind the melody is the work of George Nirmal, whose composition choices give Sreeyeshunadham its distinctive texture.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Sreeyeshunadham, George Nirmal clearly belongs in the second group. 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 Sreeyeshunadham was among the reasons why. The emotional register of Sreeyeshunadham is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

In 2:17 minutes, Sreeyeshunadham builds, opens up, and resolves in a way that feels complete rather than truncated. Songs like Sreeyeshunadham are the reason people fall in love with Malayalam music and never quite fall out of it.