Chahala by Babushaan Mohanty, Ananya Nanda

Not every song from Chahala lingers, but Chahala is the one that stays. Gaurav Anand has a history of strong work, and the music on Chahala is among the most memorable of it.

The voice of Babushaan Mohanty, Ananya Nanda carries Chahala effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. Babushaan Mohanty, Amlan Das, Sivani Sangita, Suryamayee Mohapatra are at the heart of Chahala, and Chahala captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

2023 marked the release of Chahala, and Chahala was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. The song rewards full attention but also works as company in the background — a flexibility that most tracks never achieve.

Running to 4:55, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. For anyone yet to hear Chahala, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.