Maaeri by Palash Sen, Euphoria

Maaeri arrived from the Phir Dhoom album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2020. Credit goes to Palash Sen, Euphoria, Jaideep Sahni for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Maaeri, Palash Sen, Euphoria clearly belongs in the second group. a talented ensemble cast gave the film its soul, and Maaeri is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

By the end of 2020, Maaeri had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. Some music is background. Maaeri demands attention — not aggressively, but in the way a good conversation does.

Running to 5:32, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The staying power of Maaeri is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.