Sanson Ki Mala by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

There is an honesty to Sanson Ki Mala that separates it from most Indian Pop songs released around the same time. The music, composed by , carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. Featuring a talented ensemble cast, the song carries the weight of the film's emotional arc and delivers it with conviction.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. 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.

The concision of Sanson Ki Mala — just 4:45 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Indian Pop in recent memory — and the numbers agree.