Venmukilay by KS Harisankar

Few songs from 2020 have held their ground as well as Venmukilay, a track that keeps finding new audiences. The production by Anandh is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The vocal on Venmukilay is among the better performances KS Harisankar has committed to record. The chemistry of Gibu George, Jayaram Nair, Sudheer Karamana, Vijay Menon, Devika Sivan is embedded in every moment of Venmukilay, making it as much a performance as a song.

2020 was a strong year for Malayalam music, and Venmukilay was among the reasons why. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

At 4:19, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. Venmukilay endures because it was built on feeling rather than formula — and that is the one thing streaming numbers cannot manufacture.