n the music video for his new release, ‘Kabhi’, from his debut solo album Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye, Faisal Kapadia appears alongside his wife of 27 years, Seema Kapadia, for the first time. In a monochromatic music video, the former member of Strings, now a solo artist, shares what is essentially a love letter to his wife. Against the backdrop of an underground parking lot, a marina, a speed boat and streets lined with skyscrapers, Faisal begins by singing on a metaphorical note. He expresses uncertainty about whether she is with him and near him, and admits that he doesn’t know if his assumption is right or wrong. The metaphorical ideas translate into concrete ones as he admits that without her, nothing means anything —not even a little bit. He continues to sing about the restlessness within that will not go away if he loses her and will long to find her. The fear of a broken heart haunts him, but he is equally afraid of hurting her.

‘Kabhi’ is one of the most romantic songs, set to a sound that perfectly aligns with Faisal Kapadia’s solo record, Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye. It is pop music tailored to suit two things: the modern sound, which features electronic layering merged with pop, and a style that complements Faisal Kapadia’s voice without sounding jarring and out of his depth. The music video is also alluring. We find Faisal Kapadia alone in various shots, but we also see Seema Kapadia walking next to him with a little distance between them. This is not your typical music video where the man or woman are right next to each other, acting out a crafted story. Instead, it follows the song’s thematic ideas. There are moments where we see Seema Kapadia alone. It is only after the first three minutes that we see shots of them in the same space, only this time they are slightly closer.

Faisal Kapadia could very well outshine many musicians-turned-actors if he were to consider acting as a career. He doesn’t just sing each lyric before the camera; it’s as if he’s putting everything on the line for the woman he loves, without whom he wouldn’t be the same man, like someone deprived of pure air and becomes dependent on an oxygen tank.

Ahsan Pervaiz Mehdi, who wrote the lyrics of ‘Kabhi’, has written a compelling song and clearly understands the power of collaboration, which shines through the song. A huge round of applause is also due to Maan Boruah for his direction. I have to say that out of the eight songs from Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye, ‘Kabhi’ has jumped to the top of my personal ranking because of its authenticity and real-to-reel life story. It may very well be the age of hip-hop, but some artists belong to every generation. Faisal Kapadia is one of those artists, and it is no small feat.