Shamein - Khwaabb by Sajjad Ali Chandwani, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shreya Ghoshal

There is an honesty to Shamein - Khwaabb that separates it from most Hindi songs released around the same time. Credit goes to Sajjad Ali Chandwani for a score that understands exactly what the song needs and nothing more.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Shamein - Khwaabb, Sajjad Ali Chandwani, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shreya Ghoshal clearly belongs in the second group. 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.

The song dates from 2014, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. 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 Shamein - Khwaabb — just 6:11 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. For anyone yet to hear Shamein - Khwaabb, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.