Top Indian Songs of the week 18th February 2024

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 18th February 2024.

1. Romanchana

Singers: Keerthan Holla and Ramya Bhat Abhyankar

Music Director: Nakul Abhyankar

Lyrics: Pramod Marvante

Music Supervisor: Ramya Bhat Abhyankar

Language: Kannada

Genre: Pop/Orchestral

Mood: Romantic

Nakul Abhyankar blazes away with this astonishing song that rose to the top of the weekly charts, the moment I heard it. Very few songs, probably a score (20) every year stand out like this. Keerthan Holla of "Horatta" fame is the lead singer with Ramya Bhat Abhyankar on the female lead vocals. Keerthan starts with his impromptu-styled intro and then the song takes a wilder turn for the better. 

For me what worked brilliantly in this song are the arrangements, production and the elaborate presence of Budapest Scoring Orchestra. John Paul is stunning on acoustic and bass guitars all the way, with Nakul's world-beating standards on arrangements and production coming on display. Balasubramanian G is the Orchestra Co-ordinator and Abel, Peter Illényi is the conductor. The song is beaming with positivity and creativity thanks to some superlative vocal harmonies, Pianos and Accordion interventions. 

We get to hear a flamboyant and playful Ramya in the interludes and also some woodwinds. The song is just not about this grand symphony orchestra, it has this beautiful stanza with some ravishing notes and that is the core of the song. The lines that follow "Mathadithe Thangali na kanda" is pure magic, adding even more beauty with the background humming by Ramya. AR Rahman would be proud of this, as his protege Nakul takes a brilliant flight. Kudos to Pramod Marvanthe for the lyrics. The mixing and mastering is done by MT Aditya Srinivasan. 

@nakulabhyankar @humanvaibhav @rishikanaik11 @keerthan.holla @pramod_maravanthe_lyricist @ramyabhatabhyankar @mountaditya

2. Yeh Desh Tho

Produced by Beena Samuel & Sam Devassy

Composed by Venkat Iyer

Lyrics by Dr Priyadarshi Vaibhav

Singers: Steven Samuel Devassy & Saptaparna Chakraborty

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Patriotic

Steven Samuel Devassy has been on my radar ever since he was this cute young kid playing multiple instruments and I have been waiting for the day when he releases some original music. So when I was approached with his submission, it brought about some great excitement. Steven and Saptaparna Chakraborty are the lead vocalists and the composition of this patriotic number is by Venkat Iyer.

The song does inspire the very last sinew in you thanks to the composition and lyrics by Dr Priyadarshi Vaibhav. When I heard it I was reminded of another melody " Kallellam Manikka" sung by TM Soundarajan, and from the rhythm and tone and overall tune also reminded of Ilaiyaraja's "Allah un aanai padi" and that is the reason I was tempted to believe that this is set in Raag Mayamalava Gowla. Steven however corrected me that this is rather Vakulabharanam Ragam. Full marks to Saptaparna for singing with such grace and efficacy. 

The song is uplifted at every turn thanks to Steven Samuel Devassy's fantastic singing as he touches the higher vocal registers with incredible ease and poise. The two lead vocalists combine beautifully in the Pallavi and anupallavi sections. Kudos to Sam Devassy and Beena Samuel for the sound design and production. The Keyboard interlude along with some savvy bass guitars keeps us hooked, ready to take in what comes next in the stanza. But the composition is par excellence thanks to Venkat Iyer who weaves such beautiful melodic notes in the stanza. I love the line " Janmabhoomi yeh hai meri, iski khudrat, iski mitti", both musically and lyrically, especially with trumpets playing in the background. 

Maneesh Shaji is the programmer and he is also the mix engineer. The recording engineer is Manu Prasad at Muzik Lounge School of Audio Technology and Neehar Amal at Sound Town Studio Chennai

@stevensamuelofficial @devassysam @iyervenkat2023 @singersapta @beena_sam_ @muzik_lounge 

3. Bugs

Vocals: Tshering Bhutia

Composition: S.I. Inc.

Produced: Daidipya Sheth

Language: English

Genre: Blues-Pop

Mood: Happy

How can one ever ignore stuff that comes out of Compass Box Studios? Here you go, as this is one of those BUGS that you will fall in love with. S.I. Inc. a.k.a. Shankar Iyer composes this stunning blues pop single and we have a superlative performance on lead vocals by Tshering Bhutia. She is in belligerent form, delivering tough notes with consummate ease and there is also a delicate and stylish tinge of colour to her performance. 

The humming bits right at the start set the tone, with some excellent vocal harmony arrangements induced. We have Pranav Menon on backing vocals. Raag Sethi is the bassist and the energetic drums are played by Pritul Chauhan, with lead guitars by S.I.Inc. There is this solo performance in the interlude and I felt like I was listening to some 1980s Ilaiyarajas song for just a bit. Let us just stand up in ovation for the excellent arrangements and production by Daidipya, who has shown incredible vision and skill to get this song produced with so many layers of vocals and instrumentals. 

Towards the end, Tshering produces a moment of magic when she sings "Bugs in the Tulip meadow, perusing leaves of yellow" with a wild twist on the word yellow. Who would have thought we would get some interesting lines on bugs? So I guess this is some very fine songwriting by S.I. Inc. and Tshering. The tracks are mixed by Protyay Chakraborty and mastered by Raag Sethi at Compass Box Studios. The recording is at CrissCross Music Studio, Ahmedabad. Chaitri is responsible for the captivating visual art. 

@daidipyasheth @tsheruu @cort.zenox.user @shanky.inc @nayankapdiya @protyaych @raagsethi @legitcrisscross @compassboxstudio @couscous.art @pritul_chauhan

4. Grown up

Composer: Joe Kearns, Nikita Mehta, RIKA, Riz Shain

Vocals: RIKA

Producer: Joe Kearns, Riz Shain

Author: Nikita Mehta, RIKA, Riz Shain

Language: English

Genre: Pop

Mood: Pathos

I have spoken and written endlessly this year about the rise of RIKA, and her subliminal EP. This is the 3rd song that I am featuring among India's best songs, and this is right up there among the best of the year so far. A song needs a melody that can gently sway you away to melt your heart and lyrics that can wake you up from any slumber. When these two forces work together, you end up getting a song like this.

The melody is touching with the potential to make us slaves that can keep humming, and then the lyrics are powerful too. She sings " Climb in the bed, I hold the hands of pretty strangers, Just so I can keep pretending, Its the feeling of my mother's lovin' arms". RIKA, Riz Shain and Nikita Mehta are the authors and the tune is composed by Joe Kearns, Nikita Mehta, RIKA and Riz Shain. 

The piano keeps hitting the notes hard, and RIKA rises with her powerful expression and delicious mix of falsettos and vibratos. As she sings " Home, Why can I go back home, My keys won't fit the door", the listener feels her pain. The production elements gain traction with rhythms and guitars feeling more intense. Joe Kearns and Riz are the producers who have nailed the vocal and instrumental arrangements. Pixl is the mixing engineer. 

@rika @warnermusicindia @glvssounds @billmaybs @the_kearnal_86 @nikitaathewild @rizshain @pixlpxl @shekkkkp @gbakermusic @thrdlife @jesskentmusic

5. Choodu Nanna

Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar

Singers: Vijaynarain

Composed, Arranged and Programmed by Santhosh Narayanan

Language: Telugu

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Pathos

This song is the best from the Telugu album "Yatra 2" which was released recently and it has the renowned singer Vijaynarain on lead vocals and Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar writing the beautiful lyrics. As I hear this song, there are fragments which are similar to Santhosh's fantastic single called "Monna Badilo" sung by Pavithra Chari, especially the tone and the Clarinet in the interludes. 

The interesting rhythms keep me hooked along with the background arrangements on keys and synths. The song is entirely arranged, programmed and composed by Santhosh and he also backs up as an additional vocalist in the song. Vijaynarain's high-pitched delivery is excellent and he can deliver the anthemic and inspirational with wonderful ease. I love how the rhythms intertwine with the riffs on the Keyboards. The interlude carries a lot of pathos with the help of the humming and the Clarinet. There are segments where I am reminded of AR Rahman's "Aalaala Kanda" from the 1999 album 'Sangamam'. That is why I feel there is some influence of Raag Kaapi (Pilu) in the song. 

I would love to see the song's placement in the movie, and I am guessing this might appear at a crucial juncture when the CM played by Mammootty passes away going by the lyrics and the song's mood. The song is recorded by Santhosh and Rupendar Venkatesh at Future Sense Studios. The Studio Asst. is Jaba Raj, and the tracks are mixed and mastered by Santhosh Narayanan, with Meenakshi Santhosh as the musicians co-ordinator. 

@musicsanthosh @vijaynarain @rupendar_venkatesh @meenakshi_santhoshnarayanan

6. Sojiga Sojiga

Music: Chetan Rao

Singer: Sanjith Hegde

Lyrics: Arasu Anthare

Production: Chetan Rao

Language: Kannada

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic 

The song in its early stages reminds me of AR Rahman's 'Pachai Nirame' from the album "Alaipayuthey", thanks to the acoustic guitars and whistles here which carry the same tonality as the woodwinds and guitars in that song. The finger flicks set a beautiful tempo and then there is nothing left to just surrender, the moment Sanjith Hegde makes his way on lead vocals. 

He is in his element with his groovy delivery and some amazing accompaniments on the guitars spice things up thanks to Prashanth LS and Ritwik Bhattacharya. Chetan Rao composed the melody and produced the song with additional production by Jathin Dharshan. Sanjith Hegde, Chethan Naik, Vihaan Arya, Chinthan Vikas, and Chetan Rao all play the role of additional vocalists in the chorus. 

Narayan Sharma sizzles with his solo violin in the interlude probably playing notes in Raag Reethigowla. Against this classical intervention, we have some funky guitars in the background, with Joe Oswald Kingsley on bass. The melody marches on with some top-notch vocals by Sanjith as he breaches into the falsetto zome with such style and ease. 

Elliot Joe Prince plays the drums and he does let a moment of boredom creep in, keeping a foot-tapping tempo. Tharun Kumar is the recording engineer, at Oktave Studio, Bangalore, and Harishankar V is the mix/master engineer. Arasu Anthare is the lyricist. 

@chetanraomusic @sanjithhegde @a2musicsouth @kaajalkunder @sanjana.doss @dheekshithshettyofficial @ritwikbhattacharya @ktm_kannada_movie @iamharishankarv @tharun._.kumar @narayan_sharma227 @prashanthkumar748 @jimprince_ @jathindharshan @chintanvikas @singervihaanarya @chetannaikofficial @saitejas_offical 

7. Fire Burning

Performed by Rahul Advani

Written by Rahul Advani

Produced by Bani Hidir

Language: English

Genre: Rock

Mood: Energetic

Rahul Advani is a stock you can bet on, if you are an investment person (which I am). You buy at a lower price, just in time before the stock's true potential unravels and it keeps rising after that. I have been featuring his work for more than a year now as this guy has what it takes to make it in the indie music space. This upbeat and energetic rock number is composed, written and performed by him and there are some amazing traces of the King of Pop in his texture and delivery. 

The guitars and drums are scintillating thanks to Bani Hidir who also has produced this to some delightful levels. Rahul did want to take inspiration from two of his greatest icons Michael Jackson and AR Rahman to create this burning fire. The bass guitars are unmistakably good and add style all along and it is played by Rohan. Towards the end, we get to hear the Ghatam, just before the fiery electric guitar interlude. 

Vinod Ramanarayanan plays the Ghatam and Addy Rasidi is on the electric guitars. I just love the outro which feels like a super movie climax and it is aided by the chorus done by a Singapore-based Choir called UWSEA at Dover Campus. Mizam Aziz at Studio 47 is the mixing engineer and the artwork is by Siddharth Bhatia who has done a fine job. 

@iamrahuladvani @banihidir @rohannesburg @avocadopazham @uwcsea_dover @addycradleofficial @siddychan

8. Melle Melle

Music Director: Prince George

Lyrics: Manu Manjith

Vocals: Kapil Kapilan and Nithya Mammen

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Romantic

You cannot keep these stupendous vocalists out of the fray for very long, here come Nithya Mammen and Kapil Kapilan with some tantalising vocals and they make a beautiful melody sound even better The melody which has traces of Raag Darbari Kanada according to me, is written by Prince George with lyrics by Manu Manjith. The Pallavi is handled entirely by Nithya's sweet and delicate vocals and here we have the support of Sumesh Parameswar and Remin Jose on guitars.

The chorus segment of the song features the title line and it has Kapil with some heavy-duty singing in the higher pitch. The notes ooze of such rich melodic quality especially the line " ore manjaay ore poovil pathiye peythu naam". The keyboard programming is flawless with Nihil Jimmy and Prince taking up the responsibility. The combination of bass guitars and the solo electric violin is eclectic with Joy Joseph playing the latter. 

How is Nithya capable of such a delivery, and if she was a sorceress she could easily hypnotise a whole town with her vocals. The stanza also some influences of Raag Abheri. Arjun B Nair is the recording engineer, and the mixing and mastering is done by Midhun Anand. 

@kapilkapilanmusic @nithyamammen @princegeorgemusic @manumanjith_s @nair_b_arjun @sonic_island_studio @midhunanand_official @annsheetal @balu__varghese @parameswarsumesh @nihiljimmy_ @remin_jose 

9. Wafaaein

Performed by Anurag Mishra, Siddharth Pandit, The Rajasthani Choro

Written by Anurag Mishra, The Rajasthani Choro

Produced by Siddharth Pandit

Language: Hindi

Genre: Tumri 

Mood: Relaxed

Go check out my video review of Anurag Mishra's new album "Rang" on my IG page. This Tumri-styled single has some terrific vocals as always by Anurag who pours his heart and emotions into the delivery. Like most of the songs in the album, Siddharth Pandit produces the song with immaculate poise. The Tabla and harmonium are mandatory elements in such a genre and along with these, we get the additional goodness of Keys and the strings section in the background. 

The interlude has this beautiful piece on the Harmonium and this is where I felt some influences of Raag Bilawal or maybe even some Bihag. The touching lyrics are penned by Anurag himself along with The Rajasthani Choro. Enjoy this melody in the twilight with a glass of wine and you will appreciate life better. I recommend that you listen to the whole album right away. The tabla is played by Apratim Tripathi.

@anuragmishramusic @panditjeeee @therajasthanichoro @tripathiapratim @joeysmovie @ayra.upadhyay14

11. Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi 

Composer, Author: Aditya Kalway

Vocals, Production: Aditya Kalway

Producer: Dhiren Garg

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Relaxed

This guy is one of my favourites, for his writing, singing and brilliant consistency in delivering good indie music. Aditya Kalway has written the melody and lyrics, but mainly his contribution comes from his stunning vocals. The ghamakas are strewn all over and Aditya brings about a smile when he sings with such fervour and technical prowess. "Saanson se kar waada, Tu milna aada aada, zindagi se, zindagi se" with the vibratos focussed on the last words. 

The Harmonica is beautifully played and arranged in the interlude, and the production by Dhiren Garg is beautiful. The Keys and guitars also aid the beautification process and despite the stanza being short we get treated properly with a richly written melody. Ravi Ramona has mixed and mastered the tracks. 

@adityakalway @itsdhiraining @raviromanamusic @raghavmeattle @firstwav @arjunmukherjee @anshuman.sharma1

11. Anjaana

Vocals: DigV ( Digvijay Singh Pariyar )

Lyrics and Composition: Santanu Ghatak

Music Production: Anup Satam

Language: Hindi

Genre: Electronic Pop

Mood: Relaxed

The song's vocals and its production stand out as something that can easily be featured in a Bollywood Soundtrack. I don't put Bollywood music in such high regard, but I am saying that the sound design and tone are excellent. DigV who I have featured multiple times over the years in various indie projects, lends his voice to this one. His unique vocal tone paints a beautiful colour for this song. Let us not forget that the melody was written by the famous Santanu Ghatak is another unavoidable highlight of the song. 

The chorus segment of the song is so catchy and Santanu also pens the lyrics. The Keys and rhythms add that electronic pop texture. Anup Satam produces the song and he exquisitely adds this tone, bringing on the keys-led interlude along with a mild aalap by digV in the background. The three artists combine excellently and their strengths elevate the song. I love the notes written in the stanza which go " baat adhuri hai, jo beech mein badal gayi" and there is a slight pathos in the tune at this point which touches the heart. 

Santanu shows his prowess when he makes a wild detour from there to the next line, where I was completely caught by surprise. The notes transcend as digV sings with more aggression "ab reth ki zameen". Anup does the mixing and mastering and the recording is done at PLayhead Studios Mumbai. Dhriti Nimla creates the stunning cover art. 

@santanusghatak @digvijaysinghpariyarofficial @anupsatam_unofficial @dhri.draws

12. Grey Shadows

Performed by Krameri, Pranav Nigam

Written,Produced by Krameri

Produced by 

Language: English

Genre: Alternative

Mood: Contemplative

The artist Krameri released a new album recently called "Intrusive Thoughts". This experimental album had some interesting music, but this single stood out for me. Karmeri's vocals are mild and feeble music like what the song's title suggests. She doesn't overpower you at any instance, she lurks around all along by your side like a shadow. The vocal harmonies are quite interesting, especially with the stop-and-start rhythmic programming. 

Krameri is the composer and she also writes the lyrics. The song gets a considerable lift-off from her awesome arrangements, programming and production. Pranav Nigam plays the guitars and is engaged in the harmonies. The tracks are mixed by Krameri and it is Biplav who has worked on the covert art and the lyrical video. 

@krameri_music @pranavnigam06