Top Indian Songs of the week 16th February 2025

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 16th February 2025

1. Kannadi Poove

Lyrics: Vivek 

Singer: Santhosh Narayanan 

Backing Vocals: Kapil Kapilan 

Composed / Arranged / Programmed By Santhosh Narayanan 

Language: Tamil

Genre: Ballad/Folk

Mood: Pathos

The master is here and with his first song in 2025, the expectations were building up, especially after a fabulous 2024 with 'Kalki 2898AD' , 'Vaazhai' and 'Anweshippin Kandethum'. The movie "Retro" had a fantastic teaser and when it is a Karthik Subburaj and Santhosh Narayanan combination we expect fireworks. Rightly so this song came out and without wasting any time Santhosh gets the intro in full blast.

The Violas by Manoj are strong and make marks like swords in an action sequence. The Violins join as another layer also played by Manoj, and we have the raw and earthy vocals of Santhosh. Nobody's voice fits a sad and melancholic melody like his and he gets the tone and delivery perfectly done. In his usual fashion, he gets as many layers as possible in the arrangements and production, and that is Santhosh trademark and what makes his artform special. The "azhagiye" in harmonies after Santhosh's "adi ennadi nee". 

This segment which we can also call the song's anu pallavi , "unakkul porandhu unakkul amrikkum" is so intense and beautiful, and Santhosh leaves us wanting more by having this play only once in the whole track. There may be some influences of Raag Keeravani, if I am not wrong and because of the mood and style of the song, I am reminded of Maestro Ilaiyarajas's "Oora therunjukitten, Ulagam Purinjukitten". Get a load of this interlude now with belligerent violins, and the emphatic rhythms by Pranav Muniraj. Interestingly a flute solo follows to ease the pain and this is played by Santhosh himself.  A song from Santhosh' own discography, in the tone, that I feel some similarity to is 'Ori Vaari' from the album "Dasara"

The stanza is where Santhosh drags you deeper into misery with the melody "paavamadi en nenju". The line where I was sent to the moon itself was "hey vandakodi, en vannakili, en ullala unnala kaayam, vazhi kandenadi, uyir kondeneadi, en anbana koodu neeyum". How does he manage to write notations like these? Vivek provides rock-solid support with these powerful words. All the string section quartet arrangements are by Santhosh with additional strings arranged by the brilliant General Karthik Manickavasagam. 

The second interlude has this massive piece that feels like French horns and vocal chants together and the strings of course. I was reminded of Maestros "Nila Athu vanathu Mele" and in one interlude Ilaiyaraja uses sounds to depict the horns of imminent ships. The second stanza's melody is written differently by Santhosh and how refreshing to hear that. And Kapil Kapilan is used as a backing vocalist, for those high-pitched vocals in the background. As we approach the closing stages of the song, one man begins to shine viz. the bassist Naveen Napier. He is on his solo trip if you pay attention and all that cool bassline makes us go tripping and into a trance. 

The recording engineers are Santhosh, Rupendar Venkatesh and Karthik at Future Tense Studios. The tracks are mixed by Santhosh and mastered by Karthik. All the music management is handled by Meenakshi Santhosh with studio assistant Jabaraj. 

@musicsanthosh @lyricist_vivek @ksubburaj @napier_naveen @manojviolonist @kapilkapilanmusic @karthikmanickavasakam @meenakshi_santhoshnarayanan @rupendar_venkatesh 

2. Paka 

Music Composed, Arranged and Produced - Justin Varghese 

Singer - K. S Chithra, Justin Varghese 

Lyrics - Suhail Koya 

Co-produced by Rijo Joseph 

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Light Music/Symphony

Mood: Inspiring

I have always loved Justin Varghese's work. Some of the most creative whacky and brilliant songs in Malayalam have come from him. Tacks like "Hijabi" from the album 'Meow' and "Kannu" from 'Vishudha Mejo' and the title track of 'Palthu Janwar' will be etched in my mind forever. Let us not forget the insane score of 'JOJI'. Anyway, I am so glad that he is back with a blinder of a song this time in a new movie album called 'Ponman'. I started listening to this song and I was generally pleased with the outcome from the start. The nightingale KS Chithra was performing like she was operating on a time machine. 

He starts in the intro with his vocals, but it is accompanied by some heavy strings, horns and percussions in the background. Justin has composed, arranged the whole song and co-produced the song with Rijo Joseph. The sound design feels like it is a battleground and after the intro opening verse things calm down a bit. The Piano comes like a breather, produced and arranged by Gichu Joy and the calming chorus by Aavani Malhar, Hinitha Hilary, Akshaya A.K, Sreekutty Sreenath and Vyshak Bejoy. Chithra ji begins her rendition and it feels like a mother's lullaby putting me off into an endless slumber and sleep. 

The line that hit me the hardest was when she sang " Ullil Kunju Karikkadi Thullanille" followed by the heavy Piano arrangements and then Jsutin's raw vocals singing "are raao rao". Carol George plays the Violins and Viola with all the strings arranged and produced by Vysakh Bejoy. The keys and rhythms are intense and with the constant presence of the background humming and Piano, we get a layer of Violin and Viola in the interlude. The mild steel flute comes and teases and Chithra continues to mesmerise us with the beautifully written stanza.

Another fabulous line that I fell in love with was "Pongelaro Ninnondetho Kolum Thedunne, Manam Choondel Etho Kallemuttikal Moham Kothunne". The song moves into a trance that you will find hard to get out of. This is a masterclass for musical production. Suhail Koya writes beautiful words and the tracks are mixed and mastered by Vivek Thomas. The recording engineers are Lal Krishna, CA Antony and Vipin Lal. 

@just_in_vargese @kschithra @yzakmusic @suhailmkoya @tsoj_official @lal_music @aavani_malhar @hinitha_hilari @vivekthomasproductions

3. Aashiyana Mera Bhi Tha

Singers - Junaid Ahmed & Rimi Dhar 

Music Composer - Rimi Dhar 

Lyrics - Rimi Dhar 

Music Arranger - Durgesh R Rajbhatt 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music/Pop

Mood: Romantic

Sometimes a few music albums and songs get lost in the pile and finding them out can be as tedious as searching for a pin in a haystack. I am glad I discovered this fine song composed, written and performed by Rimi Dhar from the album 'Match Fixing'. We have Junaid Ahmed on the male lead vocals. He soars from 0 to 100 feet in a few seconds, with his emphatic voice. 

The percussions and rhythms add the energy to take the song forward, but the song is shouldered by Junaid's amazing delivery. Rimi writes a very appealing melody and it is left to the amazing Durgesh R Rajbhatt who does all the arrangements. The stanza is where Rimi and Junaid work very effectively with the former weaving together some good notes and Junaid, performing in the slightly baritone scale with ease and elegance. 

Rimi Dhar joins after a female-led harmony in the interlude, and she compliments Junaid's vocal tone quite well. I am so happy to hear a very hummable melody in Bollywood after so many months, a rarity for sure. Is there some Raag Bilawal? Maybe!. Rimi tells me that the melody was composed without any intent or focus on any Raga. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Dipesh Sharma Batalvi. Rahul Sharma is the sound engineer. 

@rimidhar @durgesh_r_rajbhatt @ufomoviez @anujasatheofficial @vineer_ksofficial @artarena_c @junaidmusic_

4. Maari

Vocals: Mesbah Ghamsari, Shashaa Tirupati 

Composition: Shashaa Tirupati 

Producer: Mesbah Ghamsari 

Lyrics: Krithika Nelson

Language: Tamil

Genre: Fusion

Mood: Immersive

Shashaa Tirupati is a phenomenal vocalist and that is not all, she is one of those incredible musicians who constantly tries to push the barriers with her creations in the indie space. I have featured her multiple times, it just keeps getting better with time. She collaborated with the amazing Mesbah Ghamsari in her previous project as well. The melody is composed by Shashaa and I did feel hints of Raag Madhuvanti in the notes. She corrected me and told me this is Raag Madhukauns which is a union of 2 raagas, viz. Madhuvanti and Malkauns. 

It begins with the striking Sarangi by the brilliant soloist Momin Khan, and I learnt the names of a few new global musical instruments through this track. We have the heavenly sound of the Egyptian flute-like instrument called Ney, played by Pasha Hanjani. The combined power of the Sarangi and Ney is mesmerising just like the vocal harmony of Shashaa and Mesbah. I would recommend that maybe you even stop reading this and just listen to this divine fusion of global music styles, voices and instruments. "Maari Maari Muthangal Thoovi" and just like these words written by Krithika Nelson, the song feels like adrenaline and bliss when we experience a kiss. 

The percussion instruments are also giving off such a fresh flavour with the Daf played by Shima Shahoseini and Sahand Salimi Bamkaman, and the Tombak by Kamran Montazeri. The aalap by Shashaa that keeps coming like a riff is haunting with Mesbah's faint Clarinet and synths in the background. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Mesbah Ghamsari. The recording engineers are Roop and Rahul at Playhead Studio (Mumbai). The cool cover art is by Aishwarya Nabar with creatives and content design done by Darius Backer. 

@sashasublime @mesbahghamsari @madrashe @mominkhanofficial @studio_amn @aish_mankar @pasha_hanjani @kamranmontazeri @sahandsalimi_percussion @shimashahoseini @falconmediallic 

5. Kho Diya

Singer, Composer: Shreya Karmakar 

Music Producer: Timothy Thampy 

Lyrics: Shayra Apoorva

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop Ballad

Mood: Pathos

Shreya Karmakar delivers a solid immersive pop single here that stays with you for quite long. It is a mix of some beautiful writing and intense vocals that do the trick. The guitars and keys accompany but also with a purpose to add to the mild melancholy. Timothy Thampy is a respectable producer and he delivers with his able production in the song. I love how Shreya writes the melody like this portion with "Tumne jo thoda, leke jao", the high-pitched first portion and the notes change to a calmer place of convenience and clarity when she sings the words "leke jao". 

Shayra Apoorva is up to the task with her pin-pointed words. The way the melody moves on in the pre-chorus is also exciting as she asks this p[artner "Sapna kyun thoda" and like she gets more support from the sisterhood, we have two voices singing "tum batao". I must congratulate Shreya for never settling, but wanted to write more and more in the melody. She sings "Itna mujhe ..hai puchna kya tu kabhi .. bhi tha mera, hum jo agar kal phir mile" with all that sadness but the next set of notations has a beautiful progression with "puchchungi ma..kya the gile".

I love this thought process because now the lady wants to ask him if he had any complaints hence the transformation in the notes, I feel. The chorus segment hits you and one has to just listen and pay attention to Shreya as she give a nice sad mild aalap between "Kyun " and "kho diya". The interlude is stunning with backing vocal humming "Hmm Hmm.." followed by "Kho Diya". A+ for all the amazing sense and sensibilities to Shreya and Shayra for the fantastic words. Timothy Thampy does a fine job with all the guitar arrangements and vocal arrangements. Aabhaas Tomar is the mix/master engineer.

@shreyakarmakarofficial @timothythampy @shayra22 @whitewinestudios @fotilo_feller 

6. Alive

Music: Mayuresh Adhikari 

Lyrics: Lyla 

Singer: Robert Jordan Kirk

Language: English

Genre: Bluegrass

Mood: Calm

This song came like a bolt out of a clear sky. A bluegrass song that feels like a production from some part of Alabama or Tennessee, but this is from an Indian composer Mayuresh Adhikari. I was enchanted by Jordan Kirk's vocals who hails from Texas and we have Lyla on the lyrics. Whenever someone says Bluegrass music, I start thinking of this amazing Belgian cinematic masterpiece "The Broken Circle Breakdown". It is about a band that performs bluegrass music and I came across the name Bill Monroe in that movie. 

The amazing line of instruments like the Banjo, Mandolin, Violin, Dobro, Double Bass etc make it a satisfying listening experience. Here too we have Nylon guitars and acoustic guitars played by Mayuresh and we hear samples of the Banjo in the background. The moment when Jordan Kirk begins vocalising Lyla's lines, I am energised even though he is singing "I'm so tired of turning pages". I feel Alive and Jordan's singing makes my eyes teary. The interlude ups the ante with the Violin, Banjo and rhythms giving a filip. The Harmonica is that breath of fresh air that brings out our inner child. 

Lyla joins in and performs the backing vocal part in the second verse. Mayuresh does a fine job composing and arranging these instruments, and he instils confidence that young Indian composers are ready to create new ideas. 

@mozart_in_the_jungle @lyla_la_vida @sugata_srp @jordanrobertkirk @onkartarkase @derekbohlmusic @woodstock.studios_1969 @apoorvert @aanandaaudio @violinshrutibhave 

7. Na Manasey Needani 

Singer: Pradeep Kumar 

Lyrics: G Anand Raju 

Music Director: Pranay Kaleru 

Language: Telugu

Genre: Light Music/Pop 

Mood: Romantic

I am glad Pradeep Kumar is getting called outside Tamil, because he belongs in a much bigger league according to me. Pradeep is one of India's top 5 playback singers without a doubt, but only Tamil music fans continue to enjoy this gift. This is a very good melody written by Pranay Kaleru and Pradeep adds his touch of class on lead vocals. The lyrics in Telugu are penned by G Anand Raju.

The Harmonica-styled intro along with guitars, strings, harps and harmonies make it a very eventful star. The anupallavi line "Ninne Kanise vela", is where Pradeep's voice sounds fantastic in the higher-pitched notes along with the electric guitar intervention. The lines that follow "Preminchina Manasa" are the most heartwarming of all. The interludes allow the listener to fall in love further with the song, thanks to string section arrangements.

The stanza is proof that Pranay has give a lot of thought and ensured that he has written a very touching melody. "kshanam idhe katha" as Pradeep sings, my heart is full and yet I want from the song. The electric violin in the outro and saxophone in the interludes are all part of this beautiful production. The mixing and mastering are done at Vistar & Volume Studios. 

@adityamusicindia @pradeep_kumar1123 @pranaykaleru @vistarnvolume @shilpabalakrishnan @its_guardilm 

8. Nazarein Utaarun

Performed by: Saahel 

Lyrics/composer: Saahel 

Produced by: Saahel

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

Yes, it is official! Saahel is a talent to closely monitor and whose music I can look forward to with excitement. There are only a dozen musicians like that in the country in the indie space, who are incredibly consistent, so kudos to you man. This song like all his previous work has lyrics, composition, vocals and production. A mild and beautiful aalap in low decibels plays alongside a strong and soothing rhythm guitar in the intro. 

This guy's biggest asset is his songwriting, and I always say that once you write a good melody, the job is more than half done. Listen to the beauty of the line "anjaaani raahon pe aise mile" and you will understand what I am going on about. The rhythms kick in and you are all set to engage deeper with this song. Another strong-suit for Saahel is the production, and he perfectly introduces the beats and creates greater emphasis on the lines. 

The vocals do some magic as well and now pay attention to the pre-chorus phrase "laga lu" in the line " mai tere saare gam ko gale se laga lu". The vibrato is mild but meaningful. The bridge is beautifully penned with "bandagi karne lagi hai ye zindagi" with some accompanying strings. Kudos to some harmonies added with the phrases "laga lu" and "luta du" adding to the beauty of the overall sound. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Basspeak.  

@saahelmusic @aadam.tf @basspeak

9. Aarzoo

Music, Arrangement & Music Production: Risshi S Sachdeva 

Singers: Swapnalie Sachddev & Risshi S Sachdeva 

Lyrics: Divyanshraaj 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

It was interesting talking to Risshi S Sachdeva just after the song release, as he opened up about his desire to create original pop music which he was always inspired by listening to global icons. Swapnalie Sacchdev and Risshi are the 2-piece-Act who call themselves 'High', and they do take us on a high with their single here. We have Swapnalie and Risshi on lead vocals with all the composition, music arrangements and production by Risshi. 

The disco pop with more of the latter as part of the soundscape gives us the energy to move and feel the rush. The tone of Swapnalie's vocals has a light Asha Bhosle tinge and maybe that is why it works, we know Asha ji was the champion of all eclectic styles like cabaret and Disco in Bollywood. The Keys and rhythms keep the momentum and background sound engaging enough. Divyaanshraaj writes the lyrics to send the message of love and romance. I love it when we get to the chorus segment where the guitars and bass spruce up and spice up matters.

The impact of the Piano, as the verse opens and she sings " Ud gaye kahaan, dile hue jawaan" lets the heart swell in joy, and to this grace, the bass, drums and rhythms add the style quotient. If Risshi keeps things savvy, Swampnalie brings on more substance through her gentle vibrato. The track ends with a tilt towards the disco genre. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Risshi and the recording assistant is Manav Premi. 

@highjckd @risshisachdeva @swapnaliesachddev @divyanshraaj_ 

10. Paiyya Paiyya

Composer: Shekhar Ravjiani 

Singer: Aarathana Senthilraja 

Lyrics: Karthik Netha 

Produced by: Shivam-Anuj 

Language: Tamil

Genre: Folk-tronic

Mood: Dance

Shekhar Ravijani's journey in the indie space is inspiring. His ability to create good music at a constant rate is a lesson for many youngsters taking up songwriting as a profession. This time, he entertained me with a song in my mother tongue, Tamil. Aarathana Senthilraja is the lead vocalist and I am immediately reminded of Raag Shanmukhapriya. Karthik Netha writes the lyrics, and he makes them fun and catchy. 

The combination of the Nadaswaram and the electronic soundscape makes this an enjoyable fusion of Folk and Electronic pop. Shekhar has composed the melody, and we have the talented SHivam-Anuj on music production, with additional programming by Abhijit Nalani. The rhythms are heavy, but they will sound appealing to the younger generation that craves high-energy and dance reels. For me, the melody and vocals were quite impressive. 

The guitars added to the chorus line towards the was quite exciting. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Balu Thankachan at 20dB Black and the video is by Manas Takle. 

@shekharravijani @karthiiknetha_official @abhijitnalani @_aarathana_ @thebaluthankachan @shivamanujofficial @keyapatni @alexander_noel_janam @garuudaamusiic @shwetnarang_