Top Indian Songs of the week 27th October 2024

If you are a musician submit your new music here.

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 27th October 2024

1. Re Mann

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal & Swanand Kirkire

Composed & Lyrics by: Swanand Kirkire

Produced by Kanishk Seth

Creative Producer: Ankur Tewari

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Happy

Finally, we get a terrific song under the 'Coke Studio Bharat' series without any gimmicks or excesses. Swanand Kirkire has been in supreme form of late giving us some wonderful music in the indie space and that form continues. Like always Ankur Tewari is the creative brains and producer behind the curation of this project. The melody and lyrics are written by Swanand and he also performs the lead vocals along with Shreya Ghoshal. There are elements of Raag Yaman and maybe some Bihag, if I'm not wrong. 

Shrey Gupta plays the acoustic guitar and accompanying him is the brilliant Bhushan Chitnis on acoustic and electric guitar as well. The verse gets repeated with the soothing voice of Shreya and we have backing vocalists Devashri Manohar, Pearl Alex, Chinmay Pandit, Shaashwat Pande, Kiara Alemao, Joel Padikkal and Joel Mathew giving some a caressing feeling with the excellently arranged harmonies. Kanishk Seth is the master at work and shows his finesse in arrangements and production. Sabyasachi Deb is playing the Double Bass. 

The interlude has the inventive instrument stringed Noori, played by its inventor Kavish Seth, giving us textures of a morose Sarod as well. The second verse has Shreya conquering our hearts and delivering the sweet melody with such warmth and splendour. Sanket Pahurkar plays the Jazz Drums and the drum sampler as well giving us some energetic rhythms, like a horse sauntering. The arrangements especially on harmonies are outstanding when we get to the lines " ke palkon ki do khikiyaan tu haule band kar le". The song can elevate our spirits from deep distress to pure bliss. Kudos to the entire team. 

The tracks are mixed and mastered by Prathamesh Dudhane at Bombay Live Studios with the Think Tank Team being Kausar Munir, KJ Singh and Swanand Kirkire. KJ Singh is the sound and technical supervisor. 

@seth_kanishk @shreyaghoshal @swanandkirkire @devashrimanohar @kiara_alemao @kavishseth_ @pearlalexsays @shaashwatpande @ankurtewari @sabyasachideb @sanket_pahurkar @bhushan_bhu_chitnis @chinmaypandit.music @cokestudiobharat @universalmusicindia @shrelebrity @prathmeshdudhane @kjpahji @kausarmunir

2. Just Like You

Written & Composed by Anoushka

Produced by Fardeen Siddiqui, Shivam Trivedi, and Anoushka

Language: English

Genre: Alt-Pop

Mood: Energetic

In 2023, when I featured the best English indie songs of the year Anoushka had two of her original numbers in the top 20 songs of the year. I have been waiting ever since for her next release and this one is a solid sequel of sorts. Thank you, Anoushka for being so consistent and focused on quality and this song " Just Like You" too will be one of the best Indian Indie songs of 2024. The melody are lyrics are written Anoushka with the fabulous production done as a collaborative effort between Fardeen Siddiqui, Shivam Trivedi and Anoushka. 

Get your rock phase on and be prepared for some headbanging. Karun Kannampilly plays the drums with rising intensity and Fardeen is making your face melt with the electric guitar riffs. I am finding it hard to write this review, without being able to control my head and feet. Anoushka is undoubtedly one of India's finest vocalists and she proves it every note of the way. The high notes, and the vibrato, are all performed with a slick style. The constant presence of vocal harmonies in the background does give off a Gospel vibe too. That is precisely when I was reminded of the global super hit of 1991 called "Baby, Baby" by Amy Grant. 

The arrangements are a notch above the rest we have heard all this week and kudos to the trio of Fardee, Anoushka and Shivam for the scintillating production. I felt some smooth horns section too in the background. The way Anoushka extends the "you..you.." is mesmerising. My favorite segment was the bridge where Anoushka sizzles singing " Dont come for me, You best believe" with the backing vocals performing the word "yeah" at the end of every line with some anthemic spirit. The outro with harmonies, horns, electric guitars and drums keeps me wanting much more. I don't know why so many young musicians won't want to be "Just Like you". The recording engineers are Hersh Desai and Aria Nanji at Island City Studios, Mumbai with Hersh on mixing and mastering. 

@anoushka_sivasankar @_fardeens @shivamtrivedii @karunk @hersh.desai.9 @yashrenukdas @ariananji @studioislandcity @riddhi_sonetta

3. Bawla

Music Curated by Achint Thakkar & Parth Pandya (Night Song Records)

Composer: Mikey McCleary and Parth Parekh

Producers: Parth Parekh and Mikey McCleary

Vocalists: Sushant Divgikar aka Rani KoHEnur, Bhutta Khan

Backing Vocals: Mikey McCleary, Multan Khan, Sawai Khan, Magda Khan

Lyricist: Vrindam Nagpal

Rajasthani Lyricist: Arushi Kaushal

Language: Hindi/Rajasthani

Genre: Folk-Pop/Disco

Mood: Energetic

Achint Thakkar and Parth Pandya (Night Song Records) are on a roll and after a fantastic album 'Jigra', the composer/producer duo have curated the music in this series of 'Maati' music which could focus on Indian folk music, especially from Rajasthan. The song is composed and produced by Parth Parekh and Mikey McCleary with these guys adding some fabulous synth-pop and disco elements to a traditional folk song. Sudhant Divgikar aka Rani KoHEnur is the elad vocalist singing the lines written by Vrindam Nagpal. 

The Rajasthani lyrics are penned by Arushi Kaushal and performed by Bhutt Khan. The chorus is performed by Mikey and the Khan brothers Magda, Sawai and Multan, with some ecstatic bass by P Man Violins, Horns and rhythm programming. When the lines "Kaisa Nasha" are sung, we get a Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' kind of feeling hearing this segment. The horns section is performed by members of Bombat Brass, with Robin Fargose on Trumpets and Flugelhorn, Rhys Sebastian on Tenor and Baritone Sax. The Violinists are Alanah Fernandes, Nigel Fernandes, Dwyane Sequeira, Disha Goswami, Ankur Chakravorty and Pathik Maniyar. 

The singing is superlative with such energy, passion and poise from Sushant (Rani). The Khan brothers raise the ante with percussions like the unique Khar Taal by Magda Khan, Dholak by Sawai Khan and Harmonium played by Bhutta Khan. The song is exemplary in terms of the Brass arrangements, Violins and the fusion of Rajasthani folk and Disco music. The recording engineer is Parth with the tracks being mixed and mastered by Parth and Mikey. 

@nightsongrecords @warnermusicindia @parthparekhmusic @sushantdivgikr @mikey_mccleary @realinflict @bombaybrass @saxontoast

4. Sheesha

Singer: Laqshay Kapoor

Music: Showkidd

Lyrics: Diljan

Language: Hindi

Genre: Electronic pop

Mood: Romantic

Are you tapping your feet to this one? Well, you better be! Laqshay Kapoor is a fine vocalist, and I have featured him a few times before, so here he is serenading us with his voice in this enjoyable pop single. Diljan writes these teasing romantic lyrics that sound even more heartwarming with Laqshay's ghamakas like "yaad teri aana jaana, Pyaar ka banana." The melody is extremely catchy, and Showkidd's production gives the song all kinds of colour and texture of an electronic pop song., being the producer.

"Bewafa thod diya dil tune, sheesha toh nahi tha", is the chorus segment that just oozes quality and here I am reminded of "Apna Bana Le" from the album 'Bhediya' by Sachin-Jigar. The guitars, bass and rhythm programming keep us hooked right through with some engaging harmonies. The tracks are mixed by Mixah and mastered by Naweed at Whitfield Studio, London. I love the electric guitar interventions in the background during the bridge and outro. 

@laqshaykapoor @showkidd.music 

5. I will What I want

Vocals, Lyrics, Music Arrangements: Ananya Sharma

Producers: Ananya, Jorge I. Vázquez

Language: English

Genre: Pop

Mood: Dance

Ananya Sharma begins with her vocals and the pace is quick I am still trying to grasp the tone and soundscape of the song. The bass guitar is weaving its web all along and then it feels like a circuit just got completed and the electric current just passed through. The vocal harmonies hit me hard and I am all charged up with Aanaya also doing the backing vocals here. 

'I will what I want' she sings and yes the message is delivered loud and clear as she sings it with a thrust. The singing is just oozing with style and substance as she wasted no time and opportunity to showcase all her vocal skills. Robed Fenelus hits the drums and Felipe Ribeiro handles all the keys and synths. The introduction of the Alto Sax by Michael Ventura spices up things a bit adding an element of sensuality to the mix, and he also plays the tenor Sax in the song. The second verse begins and we get even more decoration this time around as Anany and Jorge pile up on the production.

Adrian Alejandro Medoza plays the trumpet and flugelhorn and Bob Lanzetti is on electric guitars. The whole soundscape is like a Dance-pop number with heavy Jazz textures thanks to the horns section. The arrangements deserve special mention as it requires immense skill and vision to get these elements playing and intervening with the right punctuation. Nic Hard is the mixing engineer and Ishaan Jagyasi is the mastering engineer. The recording engineer is Lars Gardner with Rachel Groves assisting. Rachel also plays the Lever Harp in the song. 

@ananyas.music @jorgei.vazquez @nic.hard @ishaanjagyasi @rachel.harpist @boblanzetti @mventura731 @feribeir0_ @adrianalejandromusic @sol_bakk 

6. Reply

Written/Composed/Performed: Anami

Programmed: Raghunandan S Rao

Programmed/Mixed/Mastered: Varun Murali at The Red Music Box.

Language: English

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic/Pathos

Anami is an artist I have featured multiple times over the last 3 years, and here is her new offering called 'Reply'. The voice is enamoured with such a lovable tone and she nails the emotions perfectly every time. Anami is also blessed with a fantastic voice and the falsettos and vibratos are used like trump cards by Anami to great effect like the way she sings the notes on the words "beautiful" in the first verse. She wrote the lyrics, composed the melody, and performed the lead vocals here.

The acoustic guitar is lush and rich and comes all along, and just when the words need an extra push, we get an extra layer of vocals in the background, like the line "I'm living by you just like a ghost". Kudos to Anami for writing this heartwarming melody that would inspire any youngster to pick imitate and sing. Varun Murali lives by his name with some fantastic arrangements and production, giving the song all the need to carry nitro-boosters. 

It feels like a romantic song, but it leaves a big gaping hole in the heart when she ends "I thought someday you would reply.." with a huge sigh. Varun Murali at The Red Music Box handles mixing, mastering and programming duties are done in conjunction with Raghunandan S Rao. 

@anami.gram @dylasly @michu.joshi @vishnuvraman @vijeth.ursa @theredmusicbox @betterinc.co 

7. Glory Days

Lyricist, Composer: Yohaan Samuel

Producer: Noah Paul Harrison

Language: English

Genre: Alt-Pop

Mood: Romantic

What a supreme debut! This is his second ever single released and I have now featured both his singles, so well done Yohaan Samuel. The debut single was some brilliant Synth Pop and "Little Miss Time" was in the top 3 songs of that week. Here he is with 'Glory Days' and I must admit that it is as good as the first. The rhythm guitar and Yohaan's voice lead the way, 

"That night we found a pot of gold and no strings to it" he sings and the pot of gold is the Piano in the background adding depth and beauty. 

Yohaan is the singer and songwriter and when he performs like this it is difficult to get him out of our heads. It is not everyone's cup of tea to write such a glorious melody and I hope Yohaan's Glorious days continue. The bridge section gets some more enhancements like the energetic drums and electric guitars in the background. The consistent piano and vocal harmonies do wonders and so credit must go to Noah Paul Hrrison for the arrangements and production. Eric Segal is the mixing engineer and Drishtant Solomon is the sound engineer. 

@yohaansamuel @noahpaulharrison @drishtortion @regal777 @_rahul.rajeev_ @vipulmadbal 

8. Hrudhayave Chooru Nillu

Music Director: Gummineni Vijay

Singers: Sanjith Hegde & Prithwi Bhat

Lyrics: Aniruddha Sastry

Language: Kannada

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Romantic

Ygandhar on the flute and Arun Chiluveru on the acoustic guitars make us feel like we are walking in lush green meadows. Gummineni Vijay is the composer and producer of this single and interestingly another well-known vocalist Aniruddha Sastry pens the Kannada lyrics for this one. The prelude is elaborate and immediately Sanjith Hegde talks about the heart singing "Hrudhayave". Prithwi Bhat picks up matters and she is stunning in the high notes as the female lead vocalist.

The heart is full and filled with joy with the anupallavi as Sanjith sings " Neene Neene" with the accompanying Tabla played by Anil Robin. This is the most enriching segment in the song. Arun plays the acoustic and bass guitars and we have Sai Krishna's Veena Solo in the interlude co-existing with the flute. This segment reminds me of the fabulous melody "Aaradhike" by Vishnu Vijay. Sanjith performs with great poise in the baritone register and kudos to Gummineni for writing a very enjoyable melody in the stanza. 

I love how Sanjith and Prithwi exchange roles with the former now singing in the higher octave and Prithwi singing the same notes in the lower. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Gummineni Vijay with sound design by T S Harihara Sudhan and Charan Vinayak. The recording is at Abheri Studio and Gummineni Studio.

@gummineni @sanjithhegde @prithwibhat @theasrsings 

9. Raanjhan

Music Director - Sachet-Parampara

Singer - Parampara Tandon

Lyrics - Kausar Munir

Produced by - Sachet-Parampara, Prasanna Suresh and Raghav Sharma

Music Assistant - Raghav Sharma

Language: Hindi

Genre: Folk-Rock Fusion

Mood: Pathos

When I watched the movie, I was not impressed with the BGM score as well as the placement of songs. It all seemed forced and for the whole album, I would not give anything more than a 2/5 rating. This is the only song I liked and that too from an audio perspective. The rock fusion straightaway reminded me of "Channa Mereya" from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. Parampara Tandon does a fine job in performing the lead vocals with a sense of pain and frustration that we see exhibited by the protagonist in the song. 

Kausar Munir pens the words and the song is composed and produced by Sachet-Parampara, the husband and wife duo. We also have the talented Prasanna Suresh and Raghav Sharma working on the music production, so credit goes to all 4 for making this an engaging single. The strong guitar strumming merges well with Parampara's vocals, and then her baritone-esque delivery is beautifully executed with the accompanying Piano. The drums and guitars combine with fervour giving us the taste of the rock genre. The song needed better picturization and choreography probably. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Aftab Khan. 

@sachetparampara @sachettandonofficial @paramparatandonofficial @kausarmunir @officialprasannasuresh @rackkeys mixedbyaftab

10. Hrudayake Hedarike

Performed by Sangeetha Ravindranath, Sanjith Hegde

Composer: Judah Sandhy

Written by Jayant Kaikini

Language: Kannada

Genre: Alt-Rock

Mood: Romantic

The acoustic guitars act as the rhythm guitar in the prelude and we know we are in for a romantic pop single. Jayant Kaikini writes the Kannada lyrics and we have Sangeetha Ravindranath and Sanjith Hegde on lead vocals. The eagerness rises once we see Sanjith's name and as expected he paints the listener's heart with such solid strokes of love and tenderness with his voice. Sangeetha compliments beautifully as the female lead vocalist. It is none other than the dependable Judah Sandhy who has composed the melody and produced this beautifully.  

The accompanying electric guitars, bass and drums energize the interlude. The stanza allows the vocals to take over with minimal production and just the bass and drums in the background. The melody is simple but the delivery and arrangements enhance the impact, like the flute solo interlude. 

@sangeetharavindranath @sanjithhegde @aanandaaudio

11. Tum Aur Main

Vocals, lyrics, Composition: Ahmad Shaad Safwi & Schumaila Rehmat Hussain

Music Arrangement & Production by : Faraz Rizvi & Schumaila Rehmat Hussain

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic/Pathos

I find it quite interesting to feature some new faces on this website because it is a journey of discovery for me and this project. Ahmad Shaad Safwi and Schumaila Rehmat Hussain are the two artists in focus here, as they compose the melody, write the lyrics and perform as lead vocalists. The guitars are mild and the vocalists take turns delivering their lines, with gentle hi-hat drums and the bass guitar support. 

The melody is simple and soothing and feels like an apt romantic single aided by adequate arrangements and production. It is Faraz Rizvi and Shumaila who have arranged and produced the track. There are electric guitar interventions. I love how Schumaila sings her lines with that crackling feeling of confusion, and vulnerability in the line "yahaan se aage kahaan jana hai tu bata" and complimented well by Ahmad singing "muje toh teri hi saath jaana hai, tu bata", as two lovers battling some external forces and doubts. 

The production is minimal here with just guitars and Keys and I appreciate that. The humming by both the lead vocalists is also well executed and arranged in intervening periods. Towards the end of the second verse, I am intrigued by the high-pitched lines sung by Schumaila "Chal Chalein wahaan" as it feels refreshing after most of the song is performed in the lower octave. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Faraz at Rehmat Studios. 

@shaadofficial @schumaila.rehmat.hussain @faraz.rizvi.98 @auroracollective.in @musicadil @iamsonakshimalhotra @atmusmusic