Sinbad the Sailor — by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Farhan Akhtar & Raman Mahadevan

Farhan Akhtar‘s ‘Sinbad the Sailor‘, from the 2008 movie Rock On!! is much more than a rollicking musical adventure. It sweeps listeners off their feet and on to the high seas. The ballad-turned-rock song is a testament to the sinewy versatility of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa’s composition, and Javed Akhtar’s lyrical prowess.

From the very first strum of the guitar, the song hooks you – it’s infectious. Farhan’s and Raman Mahadevan’s raw vocals add a layer of authenticity, making you feel every word of the tumultuous journey. The lyrics – ‘Uske thay jo sapne/ wahi uske thay apne/ aisa tha Sinbad the Sailor/ Uska jahaz ghira tufanon mein,/ Mere yaar sunlo sunlo’ – smacks of the Homeric.

The chorus, with its anthemic quality, is particularly siren-like – the kind of hook that stays with you, if it doesn’t dash you against the rocks of moving rock music.

And the song transports you. Close your eyes, and you can feel the salty breeze and hear the creaking of the ship’s timbers. It’s a journey not just through the seas, but through the highs and lows of life itself.