Raju Chal Raju - Azaad by Kishore Kumar

Raju Chal Raju - Azaad works because it does not try to do too much — it finds one feeling and holds it perfectly. The music, composed by R.D. Burman, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

Every line Kishore Kumar sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. Hearing Raju Chal Raju - Azaad without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Azaad.

1978 was a strong year for Hindi music, and Raju Chal Raju - Azaad was among the reasons why. Raju Chal Raju - Azaad is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

The concision of Raju Chal Raju - Azaad — just 6:27 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Songs like Raju Chal Raju - Azaad are the reason people fall in love with Hindi music and never quite fall out of it.