Jeena Jeena - Badlapur by Atif Aslam

Atif Aslam has delivered memorable performances before, but Jeena Jeena - Badlapur sits comfortably among the very best. The music, composed by Atif Aslam, Sachin, Jigar, Priya Saraiya, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

The performance by Atif Aslam is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. For fans of a talented ensemble cast, Jeena Jeena - Badlapur is one of those songs that immediately conjures specific scenes and emotions.

In 2015, Hindi produced many songs, but Jeena Jeena - Badlapur was one of the handful that genuinely cut through. Listeners have described the experience of Jeena Jeena - Badlapur differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 3:48, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. For anyone yet to hear Jeena Jeena - Badlapur, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.