Auliya - Ungli by Salim, Sulaiman, Armaan Malik

Few songs from 2014 have held their ground as well as Auliya - Ungli, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Salim Sadruddin Merchant, Sulaiman Sadruddin Merchant sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The voice of Salim, Sulaiman, Armaan Malik carries Auliya - Ungli effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. Randeep Hooda, Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Angad Bedi, Sanjay Dutt, Neil Bhoopalam are at the heart of Ungli, and Auliya - Ungli captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

The song dates from 2014, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The emotional register of Auliya - Ungli is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

The 3:21 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. Auliya - Ungli has earned its place in the catalogue of Hindi music that genuinely matters. The listeners who found it early already knew.