Thiru Doodar by Rahul Thalassery

The Thiru Doodar album has several strong tracks, but Thiru Doodar is the one most listeners come back to first. The production by Kabeer Saqafi Nattyamangalam is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

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

By the end of 2020, Thiru Doodar had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. There is no right time to listen to Thiru Doodar. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The 2:45 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.