Ruthey Naina by Kaushiki Chakraborty

Ruthey Naina is one of those rare Bengali tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. The music, composed by Indraadip Das Gupta, carries the song forward with a confidence that matches the performance.

The voice of Kaushiki Chakraborty carries Ruthey Naina effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The connection between a talented ensemble cast and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

By the end of 2018, Ruthey Naina had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. Ruthey Naina 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 Ruthey Naina — just 6:10 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. The staying power of Ruthey Naina is not a mystery. It is just what happens when every element of a song is exactly right.