Sharab E Husn by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

When Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recorded Sharab E Husn, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. has a history of strong work, and the music on Sharab E Husn is among the most memorable of it.

The performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. The song is tied to a talented ensemble cast, whose presence gives Sharab E Husn a visual dimension that fans of the film will always associate with it.

By the end of 2018, Sharab E Husn had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

At 4:15, the track does not overstay its welcome — it says what it needs to say and leaves the listener wanting more. It is, simply, one of the better songs to come from Indian Pop in recent memory — and the numbers agree.