Hai Na - Zubeidaa by A.R. Rahman, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik

A.R. Rahman, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik has delivered memorable performances before, but Hai Na - Zubeidaa sits comfortably among the very best. Credit goes to A.R. Rahman for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

A.R. Rahman, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. The connection between Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, Lillete Dubey, Shakti Kapoor and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

The song dates from 2001, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. Some music is background. Hai Na - Zubeidaa demands attention — not aggressively, but in the way a good conversation does.

The concision of Hai Na - Zubeidaa — just 4:58 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. The staying power of Hai Na - Zubeidaa is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.