Thaalam Poyi by Sangeetha, Jakes Bejoy, Nanjamma

There is an honesty to Thaalam Poyi that separates it from most Malayalam songs released around the same time. The production by Jakes Bejoy is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

Sangeetha, Jakes Bejoy, Nanjamma brings a warmth to Thaalam Poyi that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. Prithviraj Sukumaran, Miya, Biju Menon, Suresh Krishna are at the heart of Thaalam Poyi, and Thaalam Poyi captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

When it came out in 2020, Thaalam Poyi felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. Thaalam Poyi is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

The concision of Thaalam Poyi — just 5:23 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. It is, at the end of it, a very good song — and sometimes that is the only explanation that matters.