Raakh Baakhi - MOM by Jonita Gandhi, Rianjali

Raakh Baakhi - MOM arrived from the MOM album and quickly became one of the most replayed tracks of 2017. A.R. Rahman built the instrumental foundation carefully here — every element earns its place in the mix.

Every line Jonita Gandhi, Rianjali sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. For fans of Sridevi Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Adnan Siddiqui, Sajal Ali, Riva Arora, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Raakh Baakhi - MOM is one of those songs that immediately conjures specific scenes and emotions.

When it came out in 2017, Raakh Baakhi - MOM felt timely. Years later, it feels timeless. There is no right time to listen to Raakh Baakhi - MOM. There is only the moment you press play and realise it was the right choice.

The concision of Raakh Baakhi - MOM — just 5:47 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.