Riyasat by Navaan Sandhu, Sabi Bhinder

Few songs from 2021 have held their ground as well as Riyasat, a track that keeps finding new audiences. 's arrangement gives the track a layered quality that rewards repeated listening.

Navaan Sandhu, Sabi Bhinder brings a warmth to Riyasat that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. On screen, a talented ensemble cast bring the emotional world of the song to life in a way that enhances rather than competes with the music.

By the end of 2021, Riyasat had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. There is a quality to Riyasat that makes it feel like company — the kind of song you put on when words feel insufficient.

The concision of Riyasat — just 3:42 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Songs like Riyasat are the reason people fall in love with Punjabi music and never quite fall out of it.