Aye Zindagi - Chalk N Duster by Sandesh Shandilya, Sonu Nigam

Few songs from 2016 have held their ground as well as Aye Zindagi - Chalk N Duster, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Sandesh Shandilya's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Sandesh Shandilya, Sonu Nigam inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. On screen, Rishi Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Juhi Chawla, Jackie Shroff, Shabana Azmi, Richa Chadda bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

2016 marked the release of Chalk N Duster, and Aye Zindagi - Chalk N Duster was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. Aye Zindagi - Chalk N Duster is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

Running to 3:26, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.