O Re Mehruban by Swayam Padhi, Sohini Mishra

Not every song from O Re Mehruban lingers, but O Re Mehruban is the one that stays. Abhijit Majumdar has a history of strong work, and the music on O Re Mehruban is among the most memorable of it.

The performance by Swayam Padhi, Sohini Mishra is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The connection between Sabyasachi Mishra, Ray Elina Samantray and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

2019 was a strong year for Odia music, and O Re Mehruban was among the reasons why. The mood of the track shifts subtly as it progresses, giving even a single listen a sense of journey.

Running to 4:32, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like O Re Mehruban are the reason people fall in love with Odia music and never quite fall out of it.