Bobbys Funeral - Shakespeare Wallah by Satyajit Ray

When Satyajit Ray recorded Bobbys Funeral - Shakespeare Wallah, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. Satyajit Ray's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Satyajit Ray delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. Hearing Bobbys Funeral - Shakespeare Wallah without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Shakespeare Wallah.

1965 was a strong year for Hindi music, and Bobbys Funeral - Shakespeare Wallah was among the reasons why. Whether it plays on a long drive, during a quiet evening at home, or through earphones on a crowded commute, the song meets the listener where they are.

Running to 0:58, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Hindi in recent memory — and the numbers agree.