Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari by Sunidhi Chauhan

Not every song from Chingaari lingers, but Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari is the one that stays. Sunidhi Chauhan, Aadesh Shrivastava has a history of strong work, and the music on Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari is among the most memorable of it.

The vocal on Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari is among the better performances Sunidhi Chauhan has committed to record. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari, making it as much a performance as a song.

The song dates from 2006, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The emotional register of Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

The concision of Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari — just 6:14 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Songs like Mahakali (Female Version) - Chingaari are the reason people fall in love with Hindi music and never quite fall out of it.