Noor Musammil by Zia Ul Haq

Released as part of Noor Musammil, Noor Musammil announced itself as a standout the moment it reached listeners. Behind the melody is the work of Zia Ul Haq, Shafi Kollam, whose composition choices give Noor Musammil its distinctive texture.

Zia Ul Haq delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. Hearing Noor Musammil without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Noor Musammil.

When it came out in 2020, Noor Musammil felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. Listeners have described the experience of Noor Musammil differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 7:49, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. The track stands as evidence that Zia Ul Haq and Zia Ul Haq, Shafi Kollam, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.