Akhiyan by Kamal Khan, Dhanshri Dev

The Akhiyan album has several strong tracks, but Akhiyan is the one most listeners come back to first. What makes Akhiyan musically distinctive is the composition by Gaurav Dev, Kartik Dev, which balances simplicity with depth.

The voice of Kamal Khan, Dhanshri Dev carries Akhiyan effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. Hearing Akhiyan without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Akhiyan.

By the end of 2021, Akhiyan had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. There is no right time to listen to Akhiyan. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The 4:03 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. Akhiyan is a reminder that the best music does not need to announce itself. It only needs to be heard.