Aisa Kyun Maa - Neerja by Sunidhi Chauhan, Vishal Khurana

Released as part of Neerja, Aisa Kyun Maa - Neerja announced itself as a standout the moment it reached listeners. Behind the melody is the work of Vishal Khurana, whose composition choices give Aisa Kyun Maa - Neerja its distinctive texture.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Aisa Kyun Maa - Neerja, Sunidhi Chauhan, Vishal Khurana 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.

The song dates from 2016, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. There is a quality to Aisa Kyun Maa - Neerja that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

Running to 3:39, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.