Top Indian Songs of the week 23rd February 2025

Composed, Arranged, and Programmed by Santhosh Narayanan 

Lyrics: Vivek 

Singers: Vijaynarain, Aditya Ravindran, Santhosh Narayanan 

Language:

Genre: Funk/Pop

Mood: Dance

Santhosh Narayanan hits two home runs on the trot. After a chart-topping 'Kannadi Poove' last week it is a funky dance number with outstanding vocals, basslines and harmonies to make the music lover feel joy all over again. Vijaynarain's vocal tone fits the bill of the young romantic hero so perfectly and that is why this song is laden with energy. With Karthi singing and just jostling about and Krithi Shetty pulling off some incredible steps, one can easily understand how amazing the song is going to look on screen. 

Santhosh has composed, arranged and programmed for this single and he along with Aditya Ravindran opens up the intro with some delectable harmonies. If Krithi is the heroine, the hero is bassist Naveen Napier killing it with incredible moments on bass guitars right through. It is the beating heart of this song when Naveen intervenes and entertains wholesomely on bass and Aditya energises the party with the electric guitar. Vivek, the lyricist is on fire mode with his words like " En raa kaalam atha varuthi varuthi, oru poo kaalam atha thodutha poruthi, oru pen mela pazhi sumathhi sumathhi".

The hook line is pure delight as the singers go "Uyir pathikama vida mattalo", and then the following line adds fuel to the fire " Kanna sutthi olicha nooru kathi". Aditya handles all the additional synths and Karthik Manickavasagam is on additional arrangements duty. I love the thumps of the rhythms, drums and the simple notes on Keys to go all along. The interlude has these catchy Bluesy humming bits performed like guitar notes and what follows is a riot thanks to the composition of Santhosh and vocal prowess of Vijaynarain. 

The line "Aduthenna Kalavaram undangidumo" with the most unexpected notations and the basslines to follow is just an example of what is about to come. How easily does Vijaynarain perform the falsetto at the end of the line "nethi pottil muttham vaikka neram vandacho" is something that is beyond my comprehension and he does one more with "sondhathodu santhdipoma". The melody continues to move like one crazy joyride with lines like "nelakozhayuthu iva nizhal thaan partha". This could have only come from the repertoire of someone like Santhosh who just won't settle for the ordinary. He also plays the flute solo in this track just like in the previous single released 1 day prior. 

The recording is done by Santhosh, Karthik and Rupendar Venkatesh at Future Tense Studios Chennai. The tracks are mixed by Santhosh and additional mixing and mastering is by Rupendar @MixMagic Records. Meenakshi Santhosh is in charge of Music Management along with Studio Assistant Jabaraj. 

@musicsanthosh @vijaynarain @adityaravindran95 @vaavaathiyaarmovie @lyricist_vivek @krithi.shetty_official @nehagnanavelraja @napier_naveen 

2. Roshni

Singers: Pawandeep Rajan, Arunita Kanjilal 

Music Produced by: Salim Sulaiman 

Music Composed by: Shraddha Pandit, Keshav Anand 

Lyrics: Shraddha Pandit Music 

Co-Produced by: Shivansh Jindal 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

This combination of singers and producers worked like magic a couple of years ago, and here too we get another blinder. Salim-Sulaiman produces this beauty performed by lead vocalists Pawandeep Rajan and Arunita Kanjilal. The melody is composed by Shraddha Pandit and Keshav Anand with lyrics by the former. She has a way with words and I am delighted to see Shraddha co-compose such a beauty as well. 

Nyzel Dlima uses that brief moment when Arunita pauses to give a faint touch of the electric guitar. The melody starts to seep in when she sings "Haan Tumse Mili Pehli wafa", after that gentle aalap. How gradually the tempo picks up before you even realize and Pawandeep's voice is like a warm hug. He sings "ishq ka dhaaga khaske pakadna" with the adjoining pacy guitars. The bass guitars, drums and keys engage in tandem with the chorus lines "tere ishq pe hain yakeen" sung by the lead vocalists in harmony. Shivansh Jindal does all the additional music production. Is there some Raag Yamunakalyani? Maybe!

Getting that saxophone in the interlude is a masterstroke, that works so well, adding to the romanticism of the song. The stanza leads to some calmer moments and the melody is reinforced with the Sitar and Tabla and that is why you can always trust Salim and Sulaiman to elevate something already beautiful into something breathtaking. As we come to a close Arunita does a subtle ghamaka in " ab jo mile ho "which just kept me stunned for a few seconds. The way the two lead vocalists perform the chorus line in different octaves is wonderful. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Aftab Khan at Headroom Studio, Mumbai, with Vatsal Chevli as the mix assistant. 

@salimsulaimanmusic @arunitakanjilal @pawandeeprajan @keshavanandmusic @shraddhapandit @shivansh.j @merchant_records

3. Kadambari

Composer: Sutej Singh 

Co-Composer & Singer: Nandini Srikar 

Lyrics: Snehdeep Singh Kalsi 

Language: Hindi/Traditional

Genre: Classical Rock fusion

Mood: Energetic

How would you feel standing at the confection point of a gusty gale of rock music and the steady breeze of Indian classical music? Kadambari allows you to experience this phenomenon right from the intro as Sutej Singh's blazing guitars and Nandini Srikar's vocals intersect and then co-exist. Parth Koser on drums and Sutej on the electric guitars give us a consistent dose of heavy metal that is hard to ignore. Yet, the heart keeps paying attention to the tranquillity offered by Nandini through this gentle melody and lead vocals. 

Snehdeep Singh Kalsi pens the words and the melody is composed by Sutej and Nandini. The aalap by Nandini coincides with the solo on the guitar by Sutej and that moment in the interlude is followed by strings section arrangements and bass lines by Aditya Negi. Jashandeep Reehal ensures he gives us some stunning and high-quality arrangements here and the combined effect of the traditional Tabla, bass guitars, drums and electric guitars is a stairway to heaven. The Tabla is played by Arpit Manaktala. 

Sutej's solo and teh whole tone and production remind me of U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". The interlude continues for more than a minute and what we hear is pure bliss. There are limited lines written and sung compared to the instrumental melody and that works perfectly well for me. The recording engineers are Ranbeer Sidhu, and  Paarth Koser, Alamgir Singh (Wavetrap Productions) and Deepika (Tonic - The Sound Factory). The fantastic mixing and mastering is by the brilliant Vivek Thomas. Shubhra is the dance performer in the music video, choreographed by DR. Samira and Mudit Sharma is the director and editor. 

@sutejsingh @nandini_srikar @adi_negi @paarthkoser @snhdeepsk.music @mixedbyarpit @jashandeep.reehal @ranbeersidhu @wavetrapproductions @alamgirsingh @tonicthesoundfactory @vivekthomasproductions @muditsharma.07 @shubhrakoser @thisgraynight @kaqitalents @wearepinecones

4. Le Aayi 

Composed and sung by Madhubanti Bagchi 

Written by Juno 

Produced by A$AD 

Co-produced by Aman Moroney & Pin Drop 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Folktronica /Semi classical fusion

Mood: Trippy

Madhubanti Bagchi is making all the right decisions at the moment. Her popularity is rising like wildfire, and rightly so. After a few smashing hits in Bollywood, Madhubanti's singing prowess was discovered by the whole country, but I have been featuring her music for a few years now. She picks the right songs that suit her style and in the end, Madhubanti adds so much value to the song. Here she is composing and performing an indie single, with lyrics by JUNO and music production by A$AD. 

The heavy rhythms and keys give all the fodder for modern music tastes, but her melody gives the semi-classical flavours. Could there be some Raag Hamsadhwani? When Madhubanti gets to the pre-chorus and chorus segments the song is charged up and gives off a serenading vibe. The "Sa Ra Ra Ra Re" is beautiful to hear and the title line that follows feels like a shot of glucose to weary bodies. Aman Moroney and Pin Drop are involved in all the additional production and mixing/mastering of the tracks is done by Aman. 

The samples of Sarangi used in Lo-Fi style in the interlude are interesting but pretty much how modern folktronic music operates. The guitars are constant and the singing is hypnotic, as MAdhubanti decorates every note with her gifted voice. 

@bagchi_mb @junoversse @asadmusic106 @aman_moroney 

@yellowbrickroadmusic @swethshetty 

5. Hawa Banke

Singer: Rito Riba & Neha Kakkar 

Lyrics: Vicky Sandhu 

Music: Rajat Nagpal 

Language: Punjabi/Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

Rajat Nagpal scores his music the old-school way, fully focusing on writing a pleasant melody and then allowing some fine performers to deliver the vocals. Yes, Rajat and composer and vocalists Neha Kakkar and Rito Riba are the 'Hawa' that comes and touches our face with all its gentleness. Rhythm Shaw plays with the guitars creating that romantic touch. Rito gets deep under your skin with his blessed voice, and all the ethnic strings and Mandolin sounds tease and when Rito sings "Hawa banke, tu mere paas dolna" my heart is full. 

Rajat does a fine job on arrangements and production adding a mild strings section and some harmonies in the background during the chorus segment. Rhythm sizzles in the interlude and Suzanne Dmello is heard performing the backing vocals. Neha Kakkar joins much later but she wastes no time in giving a smashing performance. It is only love I feel in every corner of my heart, with her touching delivery. The outro is meant to weaken you further with the pathos as Kailash Patra plays a solo violin bit. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Hanish Taneja and Rahul Sharma is the recording engineer at Studio 504. Vicky Sandhu is the lyricist, writing wonderful words. 

@iamrajatnagpal @rito.96 @nehakakkar @vickysandhumusic @virginmusicin @rhythm_shaw @suzanne_dmello @rhsharma504 @mixedbyhanish @gauravarora08 

6. Kori Kori

Written and Composed by: Barbie Rajput (aka Dridha) and Shams Produced by: Shams 

Arrangement, Mix&Master: Aman Moroney

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Pathos

I just discovered the artist Dridha a while back and featured her in this fine number called 'Mann Mann Rangeyo' from the movie "Hisaab Barabar". This single here is composed and written by Dridha ( Barbie Rajput) and Shams. She has this very untarnished and sweet voice and Dridha puts that to good use. It begins with just her vocals and some mild work in the background on keys, and this is where I waiting to be wowed. The arrangements start getting rolled down like a red carpet with some punchy rhythms and a feeble Sitar in the background.

The song is produced by Shams and all the arrangements are by the supremo Aman Moroney. I love it when the rhythms take a breather in the chorus segment with only some strings taking over in the background. The mood gets a different colour now with the deep and melancholic Sarangi in the interlude. The stanza is where the song truly gets elevated, thanks to the beautiful melody that is presented. "Fikron mein jo the kaate safar", "bhoolke saare ye gum", and "khulke kabhi jo keh bhi na paaye" are all excellent bits that sadden but with substance and hope that this one fine song. 

@instabarbierajput @parasthakur @aman_moroney @thisguysachin @

7. The Other Side

Lyrics, Composition: Aryaendra Shekhar

Vocals: Aryaendra, Zeba Tommy

Production: Sunil George

Language: English

Genre: Alt-Pop

Mood: Pathos

It would not be a hyperbole, if I said that I am a fan of The Western Ghats. Being from Mumbai, one must fall in love with the mountain range called the western ghats, but I am referring to this Mumbai-based act that goes by the same name. The sound of the Piano is like the lashing rains that start pouring at frequent lengths in the monsoon along the ghats here in Mumbai. Their songs in Hindi are terrific as well, but I have ached for a single in English and here it is. 

Aryaendra sings with such poise, listen to him as he sings " Been a lot of days since I've been gone" with stresses, falsettos and vibratos on words "days" and "gone". The song carries so much of longing and pathos, it comes through from the words, vocals and tone of the song. The chorus segment with repetitive singing of "The other side" is emboldened by the chord progression of the Piano in the background. Remember the scene in 'Interstellar' where Matthew McConaughey finishes a brilliant solo task of controlling and connecting his pod with the other capsule and then when the tension ends he says funnily "And for my next act..". 

Lie that we have another even better act of magic with Zeba Tommy just coming on board. She sizzles and makes you go weak just listening to her voice and delivery. If Celine Dion was made to listen to this, she would go bonkers too! When she sings "I'll cross my heart and I'll hope to die", I want to say the same words and say that Zeba is one of India's best. The power in her voice, the ability to hold the listener under a spell and the vibratos are spells like that of the unstoppable Hermione Granger. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Sunil George with Ankit Rai as the recordist. 

@thewesternghatsmusic @zeba.tommy @aryaendrashekhar @sunil_geo88

8. Lehrein

Writer, Composer, Vocals: Rahul Shah 

Produced by Abhinav Meher 

Additional production: Aditya Shukla

Language: Hindi

Genre: Ballad

Mood:

The words are precise, the Piano notes are exactly like a gentle wave for sure. The music production remains minimal as it should be because with the tempo and tone, I'm wondering what Rahul is trying to tell me. "kehna jo bhi tha, keh na paye hum..Kyun, samaj mein na aaye hey gum". The Ballad we hear here is aided by the nice lyrics and tone with which Rahul SHah is performing. he has written, composed and done the lead vocals for the song. Rugvad Wadke 

There is a pause here and the tempo picks up and so does the energy in Rahul's voice as he sings "Jo bhi kahunga usme dikh jaayega dukh hi tumko". Abhinav Meher does the music production and arrangements and he gets the accompaniments rising like the strings section. But everything turns into one pumping display as the rock flavours get loaded. The electric guitars and drums as Rahul sings " Kyun, na samjhe humko duniya ye". The talented Aditya Shukla joins in on all the additional production and handles the mixing and mastering of tracks. 

@rahulshah.wav @first.wav @aabhinavmeher @dboutmusic @adityashukla.02 @rugvedwadke 

9. Bheege Bheege

SINGER - ARCHIT TAK & ANUSHKA GUPTA 

LYRICIST - SANJAY LACHWANI & ARCHIT TAK 

COMPOSER - ARCHIT TAK 

MUSIC PRODUCER - KARTIK SHARMA 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

All you need is a good melody, some heartfelt writing, and some minimal accompaniments like a live acoustic guitar and a competent vocalist to give a worthy song. This track ticks all the boxes and then some. Archit Tak's voice is calming and dreamy at times and he spearheads the lead vocals along with Anushka Gupta. Ishan Das draws us into the melody with those delightful guitar notes.

Writing is essential to keeping things fresh and invigorating, and that is what Archit does as the composer. You will get an example of this very early in the song with the line "Mohabbat ka ghar ho jahan" with the notations, especially for the last word. The melody feels like a bit of Raag Bihag and I sense that during the heartwarming line "Kya ab bhi mohabbat rehti hai vahaan". The lyrics are penned with such care and tenderness by Archit and Sanjay Lachwani.

Ishan continues to bring a smile or two with those guitar interludes and Kartik Sharma must be showered with praise for making the perfect choices and decisions when it comes to arrangements and music production. I love the brief pause by Anushka in the verse and here we have the introduction of the drums to kickstart things again. Anushka's voice is innocent and that works very well for a love track like this. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Rupjit. 

@takarchit @_anushka_gupta__ @038kartik @the_indiandoodler_ @kalamkaarmusic @ishandas_666 @snjay.lachwani @rupjit_playheadstudio

10. Keh Do Na

Singer: Rekha Bhardwaj 

Composition: Vibhas Arora 

Music Production and Mix - Snehil Jain 

Lyrics: Shekhar 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Pathos

This song came as a complete surprise and probably stayed with me the longest this week. The song interestingly features the incredible actor and national crush Jitendra Kumar and Manpreet Kaur. The strings are heavy, with the immense power of the Violas and the Cello. Rekha Bhardwaj ji sings her line and pleads to the male protagonist "Keh Do na, Kuch toh bolo Na", and then there are the flowy guitars, keys and strings as she sings it the second time like now there is better hope for the man to respond. 

Vibhas Arora creates a gem that shines with better refinement thanks to Rekha ji's evocative singing. The rhythm production along with rhythm guitars carries the song through in the opening verse and chorus. Prashant's woodwinds keep flowing non-stop and the intervening steel flute creates an additional interesting layer. Snehil Jain must be congratulated for the lovely mix and music production. Shekhar Himanshu writes the touching lines that deliver the message of sadness and pain. Is there some Raag Bihag (belonging to the Bilawal Thaat) in the melody? 

The interlude is a fine segment that allows the live instrumentalists to freely express themselves. Rekha Ji too gives a a few touches of classical music with her aalaps and ghamakas. Arnav Kaushal plays the guitars. Vibhas goes on to write a nice bridge section as well and Prashant's flute, and Arnav's guitars combine with the influx of the Tabla towards the outro. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Snehil.

@jitendrak1 @manpreet303 @osm_records @vibhas.arora @rekha_bhardwaj @ianishamishra @puneetsbedi @shekhar_himanshu @mohitmiddhaa @chitranshi_dhyani @snehmusic @_arnav_kaushal @snehprod 

11. Bekhabar Tu Kahaan

Composed, Produced and Performed by: Mausiq 

Lyrics: Mausiq 

Music Production: Udit Saxena 

Language: Language

Genre: Soft Rock/ fusion

Mood: Romantic

The sound of Mausiq's voice and Jobin David's slow guitar riffs are a great combination, and just as he sings "chup hai raat, chup hai raste", I wish for only that so that I could take in all the goodness of the music I am hearing. He has this very classical-styled delivery and with the melody also having traces of Raag Yaman maybe, the song touches you deeply. The song is also composed and written by Mausiq with the music production responsibilities shared by Udit Saxena and Mausiq.

The guitars, bass and drums feel like we are given a tinge of some soft rock. The stanza is where the melody gets even more beautiful "cheen saka na ishq ko tere, dil mein bacha ke rakha hai". The song keeps you swaying and enjoying the notes with closed eyes. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Sumit Grover. 

@uditsaxenaofficial @mausiqofficial @jobindavid @mixedbysumit

12. Manmohi

Singers: Savaniee Ravindrra & Abhay Jodhpurkar 

Music: Pranav Haridas 

Lyrics: Valay Mulgund 

Music Arrangement: Nilesh Dahanukar 

Language: Marathi

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Romantic

It has been a while since I heard a fantastic melody from the world of Marathi music, at least not one in 2025 yet. Pranav Haridas is the composer. I am not able to quote make out, but there could be some Raag Bihag influences in the melody. Valay Mulgund pens the words and the lead vocalists are two amazing musicians Savaniee Ravindrra & Abhay Jodhpurkar. The gentle acoustic guitar acts as the rhythm guitar with some keys and string arrangements. Nilesh Dahanukar handles the arrangements. 

I love the chorus segment when the Tabla is introduced and both Abhay and Savaniee bring on some beautiful ghamakas. The stanza is a slow and melodious layout and this feels like the continuous brushing of waves against your feet on a seashore. Savaniee reaches the high-pitched notes with such grace and style that you have no option but to clap in approval. The Shehnai in the outro is a lovely addition layer. Ajinkya Dhapare is the recording, mixing and mastering engineer. Virat Bhushetty is the assistant recordist and the video and concept is by Abhijeet Khandkekar

@savanieeravindrra @abhayjodhpurkar @pranavmusic94 @valaymulgund @priteeshkamat @abhijeethandkekar