Titli - Chennai Express by Vishal And Shekhar, Chinmayi Sripada, Gopi Sunder

Vishal And Shekhar, Chinmayi Sripada, Gopi Sunder has delivered memorable performances before, but Titli - Chennai Express sits comfortably among the very best. Vishal And Shekhar has a history of strong work, and the music on Titli - Chennai Express is among the most memorable of it.

Every line Vishal And Shekhar, Chinmayi Sripada, Gopi Sunder sings feels considered, as though the performance was thought through long before recording began. The chemistry of Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Satyaraj, Nikitandhir, Priya Mani is embedded in every moment of Titli - Chennai Express, making it as much a performance as a song.

The song dates from 2013, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. 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.

The 5:50 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.