Thola Albath by Naseeb Pathiriyal

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Thola Albath, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Mikhdam Pathiriyal has a history of strong work, and the music on Thola Albath is among the most memorable of it.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Thola Albath, Naseeb Pathiriyal clearly belongs in the second group. On screen, a talented ensemble cast bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

In 2020, Malayalam produced many songs, but Thola Albath was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. Listeners have described the experience of Thola Albath differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

The concision of Thola Albath — just 3:44 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Thola Albath is a reminder that the best music does not need to announce itself. It only needs to be heard.