Mahiya by Jass Manak

When Jass Manak recorded Mahiya, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. The production by V Barot is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The performance by Jass Manak is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. On screen, a talented ensemble cast bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

The song dates from 2022, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. Listeners have described the experience of Mahiya differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 3:16, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Songs like Mahiya are the reason people fall in love with Punjabi music and never quite fall out of it.