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If you haven’t heard Babar Mangi and Amjad Mirani’s ‘Busin Ja Dhika’ yet, it’s time to check it out — whether you understand Sindhi or not. Thanks to YouTube’s translation feature and the song’s catchy music, its message transcends language.

Released on February 14 — a day typically reserved for love songs — ‘Busin Ja Dhika’ is a homage to the average Pakistani while also being a mirror to reality. You could call it a love song sans the bed of roses.

Accompanied by a music video shot in Badin, the track captures the essence of a Pakistani bus ride, turning it into a powerful metaphor for life. We’re not just talking bumps and jolts mirroring life’s obstacles — we’re talking theft, poverty, humiliation, compulsion, corruption, injustice, and survival.

Written and performed by Mangi and Amjad Mirani, the song paints Pakistan as “a land of the deaf,” where the voices of the common people go unheard. It opens with warnings: “do not trust the journey of life” and “never call time your friend,” before it goes on to highlight how life, like the bus, throws you around with the destination nowhere in sight. It takes you in circles, it’s endless and indifferent to wealth or status.

Mangi highlights the inclusive nature of a bus where “every class of traveller sits together” — “Hindu, Muslim, kaafir sit together.” A jarring sight is the lack of women — whether that is an oversight, or a reflection on lack of spaces for women is for you to decide. Unlike the privileged few who remain detached from everyday struggles, those inside the bus — united by hardship — share the same fate.

Musically, ‘Busin Ja Dhika’ is as gripping as its message. The hook is instantly catchy, while the looping samples add a playful energy. Folk elements remain front and centre, with minimal modern production, ensuring the track stays true to its roots and remains engaging instead of veering into clichés.

The addition of bus sound effects at the beginning makes the song so much more immersive, pulling the listener into its world. As always, Mangi’s delivery is impeccable — rapping in his native language gives his flow a natural ease.

Helmed by Badin-based director Imran Baloch, the music video is equally compelling, breaking the language barrier by visually bringing lyrics to life. Every element — from the setting to the storytelling — makes ‘Busin Ja Dhika’ a track that isn’t just heard but deeply felt.

It isn’t just a song, it’s a statement, a reflection of the lived experiences of millions.