Mehndi by Raju Punjabi

Mehndi is the kind of song that earns its place in a playlist and then refuses to leave. The production by Raju Punjabi is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The performance by Raju Punjabi is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Mehndi, making it as much a performance as a song.

Released in 2021, it arrived at a time when Haryanvi music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

Running to 2:34, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.