Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein by Pritam, Neeraj Shridhar

There is an honesty to Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein that separates it from most Hindi songs released around the same time. Pritam sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein, Pritam, Neeraj Shridhar clearly belongs in the second group. Hearing Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein without thinking of John Abraham, Anaitha Nair, Farida Jalal, Girish Karnad is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Aashayein.

2010 was a strong year for Hindi music, and Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein was among the reasons why. Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

The 5:53 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. For anyone yet to hear Mera Jeena Hai Kya - Aashayein, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.