Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Shaheed by Mohammed Rafi, Rajendra Mehta, Manna Dey

Few songs from 1965 have held their ground as well as Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Shaheed, a track that keeps finding new audiences. Behind the melody is the work of Prem Dhawan, whose composition choices give Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Shaheed its distinctive texture.

The voice of Mohammed Rafi, Rajendra Mehta, Manna Dey carries Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Shaheed effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. Manoj Kumar, Sarita, Kamini Kaushal, Prem Chopra, Pran, Indrani Mukherjee, Nirupa Roy, Asit Sen gave the film its soul, and Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Shaheed is the song that most directly channels that feeling into music.

Released in 1965, it arrived at a time when Hindi music needed exactly this kind of sincerity. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

At 3:29, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. The track stands as evidence that Mohammed Rafi, Rajendra Mehta, Manna Dey and Prem Dhawan, working together, are capable of something well above the ordinary.