Ustaad by Ranvir Kundu, Anjali Raj

When Ranvir Kundu, Anjali Raj recorded Ustaad, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. What makes Ustaad musically distinctive is the composition by S Hooda, which balances simplicity with depth.

Ranvir Kundu, Anjali Raj's vocal here has a quality that is difficult to describe but impossible to miss — it simply feels true. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Ustaad, making it as much a performance as a song.

The song dates from 2020, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. The song rewards full attention but also works as company in the background — a flexibility that most tracks never achieve.

The concision of Ustaad — just 3:15 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. The song continues to find new listeners, which is the surest sign that it was made with something genuine at its core.