Saawali Si Raat - Barfi by Pritam, Arijit Singh

Not every song from Barfi lingers, but Saawali Si Raat - Barfi is the one that stays. Credit goes to Pritam for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

Pritam, Arijit Singh understood what this song required and delivered it without excess — the restraint itself becomes the emotion. Hearing Saawali Si Raat - Barfi without thinking of Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ileana D'Cruz is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Barfi.

2012 marked the release of Barfi, and Saawali Si Raat - Barfi was the track that ensured the album would be remembered. Whether it plays on a long drive, during a quiet evening at home, or through earphones on a crowded commute, the song meets the listener where they are.

The concision of Saawali Si Raat - Barfi — just 5:08 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Songs like Saawali Si Raat - Barfi are the reason people fall in love with Hindi music and never quite fall out of it.