Thiruvaranmula by Manjari

Thiruvaranmula arrived from the Thiruvaranmula album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. The music, composed by Raveendran Thiruvalla, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

The voice of Manjari carries Thiruvaranmula effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Thiruvaranmula, making it as much a performance as a song.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Thiruvaranmula was among the reasons why. Listeners have described the experience of Thiruvaranmula differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

The concision of Thiruvaranmula — just 6:14 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Thiruvaranmula has earned its place in the catalogue of Malayalam music that genuinely matters. The listeners who found it early already knew.