Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana by Aarti Mukherji, Raamlaxman

The Taraana album has several strong tracks, but Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana is the one most listeners come back to first. The production by Raamlaxman is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The performance by Aarti Mukherji, Raamlaxman is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The chemistry of Ranjeeta, Mithun Chakraborty, Om Shivpuri, Shreeram Lagoo, Urmila Bhatt, Shubha Khote, Mala Jaggi, Jagdeep is embedded in every moment of Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana, making it as much a performance as a song.

When it came out in 1979, Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. Listeners have described the experience of Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 3:52, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Chhodo Baiyan Na Chhedo Mohe - Taraana has earned its place in the catalogue of Hindi music that genuinely matters. The listeners who found it early already knew.