Ik Chhori Gaon Ki Gori by Shiv Nigam

Ik Chhori Gaon Ki Gori arrived from the Sun Meri Murgi album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. Credit goes to Rakesh Sharma for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

Shiv Nigam inhabits this song completely, making every phrase feel like it was written specifically for this voice. The story told by a talented ensemble cast in Sun Meri Murgi finds its musical expression here — Ik Chhori Gaon Ki Gori is where the film's heart beats loudest.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 4:26, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, at the end of it, a very good song — and sometimes that is the only explanation that matters.