Shona Bondhu by Raj Barman

There is an honesty to Shona Bondhu that separates it from most Bengali songs released around the same time. Savvy sets the tone from the very first bar — it is clear from the opening notes that this song means business.

The voice of Raj Barman carries Shona Bondhu effortlessly, which is the highest compliment a song can give its singer. The story told by Adrit Roy, Puja Cherry in Shona Bondhu finds its musical expression here — Shona Bondhu is where the film's heart beats loudest.

By the end of 2018, Shona Bondhu had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. Listeners have described the experience of Shona Bondhu differently — romantic, melancholic, uplifting — which suggests the song is large enough to hold many truths.

Running to 4:09, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. For anyone yet to hear Shona Bondhu, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.