Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye

More than a decade old, this evergreen song from the movie Anand has never failed to connect with millions across generations. There is something deeply human about this song, as it captures a quiet kind of loneliness: as the song progresses, it describes not only being physically alone but the feeling of “no one with whom to share what is happening within us”.

The setting sun acts as a metaphor for different transitions across the life of an individual: as a child grows up and leaves home, migration separating families, relationships changing, vulnerabilities and other emerging social roles. The unwarranted transition sometimes no one is prepared for, and losing people with whom one once felt connected.

This matters because, from a public health perspective, loneliness is not merely a personal feeling; it is also shaped by what we feel under certain social conditions. Modernisation, evolving family structures, migration, work, ageing, disability, bereavement, social exclusion and supportive communities can all influence whether a person feels connected or alone. This makes loneliness a public health concern. Then, what should be our core question: Is it simply a matter of who experiences loneliness? Or rather, what are the collective foundations of a society that fosters true connection?

Holistic health is not merely an absence of disease, but it is also about whether we have someone to talk to without judgement, somewhere to belong and people who notice when we are absent. Perhaps that is what makes this song timeless. It reminds us that as the day fades, the absence of connection can become even more visible.