Sakhiyaan by Maninder Buttar

When Maninder Buttar recorded Sakhiyaan, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. The music, composed by Mixsingh, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

The performance by Maninder Buttar is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Sakhiyaan a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

2018 was a strong year for Punjabi music, and Sakhiyaan was among the reasons why. There is no right time to listen to Sakhiyaan. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The concision of Sakhiyaan — just 2:59 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.