Bhola Bhala Mukhda Teri - Pakshiraj by Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey

Released as part of Pakshiraj, Bhola Bhala Mukhda Teri - Pakshiraj announced itself as a standout the moment it reached listeners. S.N.Tripathi's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

The voice of Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey carries Bhola Bhala Mukhda Teri - Pakshiraj effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. 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 1959, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The mood of the track shifts subtly as it progresses, giving even a single listen a sense of journey.

Running to 5:34, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The track stands as evidence that Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey and S.N.Tripathi, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.