Top Indian Songs of the week 24th December 2023

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 24th December 2023. 

1. Mehsoos

Lyrics: Yogendra Saniyawala

Composition: Yogendra Saniywala, Swati Minaxi, Biju Nambiar, Gaurav Kapadia, Manuel Lagullón Olivares

Vocals: Swati Minaxi

Language: Hindi

Genre: Folk/Experimental Fusion

A folk band also making contemporary and some kind of experimental fusion emerges from Surat and I like many ardent fans of music have started taking them seriously. I had featured them a year or so ago for a song called "Haiya Ho" and another one by the name "Khuda Na Mere". This one however tops them all. Swati Minaxi, the lead vocalist sizzles right from the get-go with that steamy voice. 

The acoustic guitars keep strumming all along creating the effect of a natural stream of water especially with the keyboards as well. Biju Nambiar is paying the Keys and Yogendra Saniyawala is on the guitars. The song's title talks about 'Mehsoos' and that is what you get when you listen to the song, a wholesome experience that uplifts the spirit. The production is out of this world with the Keys, drums by Gaurav Kapadia and the fantastic accompanying vocals. 

The varying percussions give the folk flavor and none of this would be so emphatic and moving without Swati's mind-bending delivery. Manuel Lagullón Olivares plays the simmering Double Bass. This single is written by Yogendra and composed by Swati, Manuel, Biju, Yogendra and Gaurav. Vijay Benegal is the mixing engineer at The Audio Guys Institute, Mumbai and the mastering is by Jeremy Hagry at Dune Audio Productions LTD, UK

@thetapiproject @gauravpf @bijunambiar97 @indianuance @yogendrasaniyawala @swati_minaxi @payo_maracas @jimbhaai

2. Bhoolo Bhatko

Singer/Performed By/Cast: Bassick

Lyricist: Bassick

Music Producer/Composer/Produced By: Anurag Saikia

Co-Composer: Keshav Tyohar, Oblong Sioni

Language: Hindi

Genre: Alt-Hip Hop

I was blown away by a few tracks in the latest season of MTV Hustle. There will be two tracks featured this week and they had some scintillating Alt-Hip Hop, fusing rap and Indian folk elements. This one is performed and written by Shlok Varma a.k.a. Bassick and the composition, and production is by one of India's finest, Anurag Saikia. We are taken to rural Bundelkhand thanks to the arrangements and overall programming. Keshav Tyohar also has worked on this project's production.

The keys and rhythms are extremely engaging and never sound mundane for even a second. Anurag ups the ante on synths and with Bassick's intelligent writing, and thunderous rapping. Hanish Taneja has mixed and mastered the tracks at Studio Alika. 

@bassick._ @mtvhustle @kaanphodmusic @keshavtyohar @anuraag_psychaea @mixedbyhanish

3. Jazbaat

Song Composed, Produced, Arranged by: A. R. Rahman

Singers: Jubin Nautiyal & Shilpa Rao

Lyrics by: Shellee 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Filmi Pop

AR Rahman is a giant and sometimes even a legend like him can see some decline especially when he has been around for 4 decades. In 2023 ARR has come up with some good songs here and there rather than wholesome albums. 'Pippa' on Amazon Prime has some good songs and I have given it a good review on Instagram. This is the best song of the album and it reminds me of his '99 songs' that came a couple of years ago. 

The lead vocalists are Shilpa Rao and Jubin Nautiyal and the latter should be thankful for getting a brilliant song and this will end up being his best in 2023. Shilpa has been having a phenomenal year singing for some top-notch composers across India, and this one probably takes the cake. ARR has composed, arranged and produced this to our great delight and he had Hiral Viradia on musical supervision. The backing vocals are a highlight in the song and for that, we have the Elfe Choir conducted by Roshni Vincent. We also have some talented additional male vocalists like Mayank, Suryansh & Sarthak

The Keys and rhythms are a constant presence and we have Sarthak on all the additional programming. Shilpa is sizzling while Jubin sings his lines with great passion. We do hear a lot of woodwinds in the background thanks to the Sunshine Orchestra, conducted by Jerry Vincent, Anupam Roy and Saar Singhal. The transformation of the style and tempo where things become more Indian classical-ish is a segment to cherish. The Tabla is the sole accompaniment to Shilpa's endearing vocals. 

We have Keba playing the guitars and Prashant Venkat on bass. Omkar Dhumal's Shehnai can be heard playing in the background and this is a masterful display of arrangements and production. In the outro there is a moment when the notes take a small drift as Jubin siings " zamana peeche chodke" and that brings a smile to my face. Momin Khan plays the Sarangi, Seenu plays the Cello and the strings are played by Budapest Strings orchestra. Samarth Srinivasan conducts the orchestral session. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Nitish R Kumar  

4. Sarada Saradaga

Composed, arranged, & programmed: Santhosh Narayanan

Lyrics by Saraswathiputhra Ramajogayya Sastry

Vocals by Anurag Kulkarni

Language: Telugu

Genre: Alt-Pop

It is amazing to see Santhosh Narayanan spread his wings into the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, with Dasara in Telugu being a brilliant composition in early 2024, and now another Telugu movie 'Saindhav' adding a feather to his cap. Santhosh is India's finest composer in my eyes and in 2024 will also see 'Kalki 2898 AD' in Telugu as well as 'Anweshippin Kendethum' in Malayalam.

Talking about this movie now, I was disappointed with the first single "Wrong Usage" but this one is beautiful and accurately reflects Santhosh's abilities. Anurag Kulkarni is one of the best playback singers in the country and I love the partnership between him and Santhosh, which worked perfectly in 'Dasara'. This song begins with a mild whistle and Acoustic guitars by Karthik Manickavasakam. Just like most of Santhosh's creations, the stylish bass guitar never falls behind and here Naveen Napier blends in. 

Anurag sings the song like a chill breeze that you keep wanting more and more and when the lines "Ee Noorellila maare veyyelluga" come on, he hits the higher notes with impeccable ease and the Piano adds to the intensity. Aditya Ravindran plays the Ukulele as well as the electric guitars in the background.

When we hit the chorus segment of the song, the heart just feels lighter thanks to the rich melody composed by Santhosh and Anurag's delivery. Manonmani intervenes on the Sarangi solo from time to time, especially the piece at the end of the stanza, and kudos to Santhosh for the wonderful arrangements and overall programming. You can feel the keys and synths creating the impact of a synth-pop number. Aditya and Karthik take over all the additional key programming. 

The stanza is unique and it is more of a bridge section and here too the bass guitars and Keys elevate the song's texture. The recording engineers are Santhosh, Karthik, Rupendar Venkatesh, Pranav Muniraj, Aditya (Sound Dockk) and Bhanu (Sound Dockk). The tracks are mixed and mastered by Rupendar at Future Tense Studios. 

@musicsanthosh @karthikmanickavasakam @adityaravindran95 @anuragkulkarni7 @napier_naveen @rupendar_venkatesh @pranavbalu @manonmanisarangi

5. Black Hole

Performed by Michael Dias

Written by Michael Dias

Produced by Michael Dias

Language: English

Genre: Indie Pop

If I am featuring the 4th song from the same album "Show Me What's Real", it must say a lot about the quality of the album and Michael Dias as a singer-songwriter. Please go check out the album and pick your favourite ones from it. This song like the others has lyrics, vocals and composition by the man himself and Michael has also produced it with great finesse. 

The Piano by Alok Merwin is heavy and has a great impact on the proceedings just like Michael's vocals. I love the lines " Baby you blew up the sun and the moon and the stars with your smile" from a lyrical and composition standpoint. The notes take a beautiful shift, something that I never predicted and that was heartwarming. The strings section slowly gains in strength along with the Piano and we get drawn deeper into the song and this is where Michael delivers the lines with greater p[purpose and passion.

Every element of arrangement and programming deserves credit because they create all the intended effects. Towards the end we get some energetic drums by David Joseph and electric guitars, and Michael sings in the higher vocal registers and forays into the falsetto. All these up the ante with the style maintained thanks to the bass guitars by Carl Fernandes. 

@michaelknowstorock @prarthanasen @raginiramanathan @drummachari @rebeckydias @alok_merwin @tobsgarage @carlthebass @davidthejoseph 

6. Main Sochi Javan

Written and Composed by Burrah, Karan Kanchan, Anurag Saikia

Music Produced by Karan Kanchan, Anurag Saikia

Language: Punjabi

Genre: Folk/Pop

This beautiful song is a music lover's delight as it has such a great effect as we listen to it. It calms the nerves down and at the same time, it makes you tap your feet. This is another song picked from MTV Hustle Season 3 and we have the popular musician Burrah writing the lyrics and performing the vocals. He has performed at Coke Studio Bharat in the latest season, but nothing compares to this solid output. 

The keys, synths and rhythms are modern and add an electronic style to the folk rendition. Burrah's humming makes the heart swell in joy and the production by Anurag Saikia and Karan Kanchan makes this one palatable dish. The duo of Anurag and Karan have also composed the underlying melody. Keshav Tyohar has also worked alongide Karan and Anurag on the song's production. There are sounds of the Sarangi and Shehnai and the obvious guitars that collectively elevate this wonderful song. 

@burrahmusic @mtvhustle @kaanphodmusic @keshavtyohar @anuraag_psychaea 

7. Khel Mandiyela

Performed by Abhanga Repost

Written by Abhanga Repost, Sant Tukaram Maharaj

Produced by Abhanga Repost

Language: Marathi

Genre: Folk Fusion

It's been a great few weeks for folk music as we have been listening to some fantastic work by bands like Inayat last week and now we have Tapi Project and Abhanga Repost this week. The Marathi folk-fusion band takes up Abhangas or old devotional poetry in Marathi written by legends like Saint Tukaram Maharaj and weaves them into song using other musical styles like Pop, Reggae, Hip-Hop etc. 

The album "Tuka Mhane" has some very good songs but this one is my favourite. Pratish Mhaske is the lead vocalist, Ajay Vahval is the lead guitarist, Viraj Acharya plays the percussion and Tabla, Swapnil Tarphe on bass, Piyush Acharya on Harmonium, and the drummer is Dushyant Deorukhkar. 

This song has this amazing start on the electric guitar intro and makes me feel like I am listening to U2's 'Mission Impossible. It is inventive to the Harmonium intervention with the mild drums and guitars in the background. There is no way we can take our minds off Pratish's stunning vocals. Once we get to the chorus segment the impact of the percussion is heavy and we enter the folk-rock zone. Bassist Swapnil is one fire creating such a style. 

Whether it is the Harmonium interlude or the stanza, I did sense some Raag Bihag in it. There are many forms of percussion, Indian and Western and all this feels great and unifying. The way the Harmonium, electric guitar and Table come together in the interludes towards the end is creatively done and after that, the song feels like a proper Bhajan. 

@abhanga_repost @swapnil_tarphe @ajay_abhanga_repost @dishdashdush_ @hamonium_imbalance @viru_abhanga_repost @pratish.music 

8. Khushi Ke Bahane

Singer: Sonu Nigam

Music: Anupam Roy

Lyrics: Manoj Yadav

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music/ Semi-Classical

The movie album is "Shastry Virudh Shastry" and it has come good music, composed by various artists. This song was my favourite and it has a terrific collaboration between composer Anupam Roy and vocalist Sonu Nigam. The lyrics are written by Manoj Yadav who too is a well-sought-after writer and this is why the song works well from all angles.

The Sarod interlude touches the heart most delightfully along with the Tabla, reminding of a Piku BGM which was also scored by Anupam Roy. The song has very clear influences of Raag Yaman and who better to make the heart feel heavy than Sonu with his vocal tone and delivery? 

@aroyfloyd @sonunigamofficial @manojyadavwrites 

9. Pehle Bhi Main

Vocals, Composition, Production: Vishal Mishra

Lyrics: Raj Shekhar

Language: Hindi

Genre: Alt-Rock

The album 'Animal' had some good songs, some of them original, while others were versions of older songs. This was my favorite and even in the movie, the placement of the song was ideal. Vishal Mishra continues to grow and shine as a fine composer and he anyway will be among the 5 best male playback singers in the nation today. 

The Alt-rock style is appealing as it stays mild at the beginning with all the focus on the lyrics by Rah Shekhar, but later on, the song shifts focus on the heavy instrumentals, vocals and production. Bixal has co-produced the song and kudos to the team for this engaging production and sound design. Kumar Gaurav Singh, Trihangku Lahkar and Bixal also assist Vishal musically. When we get to the chorus segment the drums, Piano and electric guitar create such fine grandeur.

Ishan Das, Bixal and Vishal play the guitars with all the backing vocal support coming from Bixal. The aalap in the background by Vishal forms the core of the interlude, and it is nice to see the stanza operate without the heavy decibels of drums and electric guitars. Trihangku is the recording engineer, with Shadab Rayeen as the mix/master engineer at New Edge Studios. Pukhraj and Anup are the mix assistants. 

 @vishalmishraofficial @kumargauravsing @trihangkulahkar @bixal_purplehaze @sonalc23 @rajshekharis @shadabrayeen @animalthefilm @tripti_dimri @tseries.official @ishandas_666

 10. Paper Thin

Performed by Nick Alexander

Written by Nick Alexander

Produced by James A

Language: English

Genre: Indie Alt-Rock

I am impressed with Nick Alexander's music and vocals and, surprisingly, I have never heard his work before. This song was an immediate choice for the week's best music. It had all the boxes ticked and the best highlight was Nick's vocal strength and texture. The electric guitar and drums paint the song with that Rock brush and the arrangements take their positions perfectly.

The singing instils such a strong feeling of likability, and when we get to the interlude, the electric guitar solo is setting things on fire. The song is one wholesome rock number that should make Nick's future work very exciting for the audience. The melody written by Nick also draws our attention and the production is tantalising overall thanks to James A. 

@nkhlxandr @_tazjames

11. Mere Ranjhanaa

Singers - Garvit Soni, Priyansh Srivastava 

Composer - Garvit-Priyansh 

Producer- Garvit Soni

Lyricist - Priyansh Srivastava 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Semi-Classical Fusion 

When it comes to consistently good quality music, nobody quite cuts indie musician duo Garvit and Priyansh. I have featured them so many times and if I am not wrong, there has never been a single which has never been featured and reviewed by me. Garvit Soni and Priyansh Srivastava are the lead vocalists and they also compose the melody of the song. When it comes to the writing, it is Priyansh on the lyrics and Garvit who produces the song to perfection.

The acoustic guitars are so wonderfully accompanied without disturbing the camaraderie in the duo's singing, as Priyansh and Parth Srivastava play the guitars. Garvit and Priyansh have slightly different styles and exquisite ghamakas are great to hear. The singing is fraught with such passion and this is their strong suit. Aditya Kulkarni intervenes with an electric guitar solo in the interlude. The backing vocals add a nice layer to provide depth. Rushik Patel is the mix/master engineer and the project is directed by Sanjna Krishnan & Rohan Shetty

@garvitsoni_ @priyanshhhsrivastava @garvitxpriyansh

@sanjnakrishnan @tseries.official @srivastavaparth

 12. Tujhya Vina

Singer - Sonali Sonawane 

Composer - Shivi R. Kashyap

Music - Codie

Lyrics - Hrushi B

Language: Marathi

Genre: Electronic Pop

Shivi R Kashyap was just featured a couple of weeks ago for a very likeable song so this is a pleasant surprise for me as I had never featured or heard her work up until 2023. She has composed the melody and like in the previous single, Codie is the music producer here as well. This electronic pop fusion has some headbanging keys and rhythms programming interlaced. 

Sonali Sonwane is a renowned playback singer in Marathi movie space and she makes full use of this opportunity and executes some very well-executed ghamakas. The Shehnai interlude adds that wedding season flavour and there are moments when the guitars and Sitar sounds add meat to the production. Hrushi B is the lyricist. Ameya Londhe is the sound engineer at Audio Garage Studio. 

@iamshivirk @sonalisonawane29 @codieworldwide @brosrecordsofficial @agnelroman @hruforyou 

13. Plenty

Composer, Author, Performer: Kayan

Producer: lil help

Language: English

Language: Indie Pop

There is plenty to enjoy about Ambika's music here. She is known as Kayan, and I have been a fan of her music over the last couple of years. This song has also come at a time when another upbeat Pop number 'Cool Kids' is making waves in the Netflix film ' Kho Gaye Hum Kahan'. Kayan wears many hats viz. model, DJ, Producer, Composer, Actor, Dancer and all this abundance of talent will hopefully reap great benefits for herself and her fans. 

This song is written, composed and performed by Kayan with ' lil help ' producing it. The acoustic guitars start mildly coaxing our minds into enjoying the song and just then the strings section and vocal harmonies are terrific layers that glorify the song. Things don't stop there, as we are blessed to hear the Horns, and blazing synths and feel like standing in the middle of a grand symphony theatre. Prathamesh Dudhane is the mixing and mastering engineer 

@kayan.a @plslilhelp @prathmeshdudhane