Surma by Jassie Gill, Asees Kaur

Surma is one of those rare Punjabi tracks that manages to feel both fresh and familiar the moment it begins. What makes Surma musically distinctive is the composition by Jassie Gill, which balances simplicity with depth.

The vocal on Surma is among the better performances Jassie Gill, Asees Kaur has committed to record. The connection between Ritu Pamnani and this song is part of what makes it resonate beyond the film itself.

The song dates from 2021, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The emotional register of Surma is wide enough to fit celebration and solitude equally well.

The 2:58 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. Songs like Surma are the reason people fall in love with Punjabi music and never quite fall out of it.