Ik Te Pyar by Master Saleem

Few songs from 2018 have held their ground as well as Ik Te Pyar, a track that keeps finding new audiences. The production by Jatinder Jeetu is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The voice of Master Saleem carries Ik Te Pyar effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. On screen, a talented ensemble cast bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

Released in 2018, it arrived at a time when Punjabi music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. Ik Te Pyar is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

Running to 4:51, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.