Ishqiyan by Satyajeet Pradhan

Ishqiyan is the kind of song that earns its place in a playlist and then refuses to leave. What makes Ishqiyan musically distinctive is the composition by Saroj Samal, which balances simplicity with depth.

The vocal on Ishqiyan is among the better performances Satyajeet Pradhan has committed to record. On screen, Sudhansu Narayan Dash, Ankita Mishra bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

When it came out in 2018, Ishqiyan felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. There is no right time to listen to Ishqiyan. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The concision of Ishqiyan — just 5:19 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.