Karma (Introduction) - Karma by Arun Bakshi

Arun Bakshi has delivered memorable performances before, but Karma (Introduction) - Karma sits comfortably among the very best. The production by Laxmikant, Pyarelal, Arun Bakshi is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

Arun Bakshi understood what this song required and delivered it without excess — the restraint itself becomes the emotion. Sridevi, Dilipkumar Roy, Nutan, Naseeruddin Shah, Poonam Dhillon, Anupam Kher, Shakti Kapoor, Dara Singh, Satyanarayana, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Bindu, Jugal Hansraj, Sharat Saxena gave the film its soul, and Karma (Introduction) - Karma is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

1986 marked the release of Karma, and Karma (Introduction) - Karma was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 1:19, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Karma (Introduction) - Karma are the reason people fall in love with Hindi music and never quite fall out of it.