Gehra Ishq - Neerja by Shekhar Ravjiani, Vishal Khurana

Shekhar Ravjiani, Vishal Khurana has delivered memorable performances before, but Gehra Ishq - Neerja sits comfortably among the very best. Vishal Khurana sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

Shekhar Ravjiani, Vishal Khurana understood what this song required and delivered it without excess — the restraint itself becomes the emotion. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Gehra Ishq - Neerja a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

2016 was a strong year for Hindi music, and Gehra Ishq - Neerja was among the reasons why. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

At 3:26, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. It is, at the end of it, a very good song — and sometimes that is the only explanation that matters.