Pehli Nazar - Tera Mera Saath Rahen by Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik

Few songs from 2001 have held their ground as well as Pehli Nazar - Tera Mera Saath Rahen, a track that keeps finding new audiences. The production by Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Anand Raaj Anand is understated in the best way — supportive without overshadowing the vocal.

The voice of Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik carries Pehli Nazar - Tera Mera Saath Rahen effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Pehli Nazar - Tera Mera Saath Rahen, making it as much a performance as a song.

By the end of 2001, Pehli Nazar - Tera Mera Saath Rahen had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 5:14, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Hindi in recent memory — and the numbers agree.