Top Indian Songs of the week 28th December 2025

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 28th December 2025

1. Shuru Shuru

Vocals: Sanjith Hegde, Punya Selva

Lyrics: Jayanth Kaikini

Composed, Arranged, and Produced by Santhosh Narayanan

Language: Kannada

Genre: Light Music/Pop

Mood: Romantic

This is going to be a glorious debut for Santhosh Narayanan in Kannada, and I am indeed excited for the album to release. For now, let us celebrate this stunning romantic single from the upcoming movie “ Balaramana Dinagalu”. In an industry that is already doing well musically, thanks to some fine composers, I hope Santhosh stays here to raise the bar, and this track exemplifies that feeling and hope. The moment Sanjith Hegde starts singing, and after the moving Piano, he does a falsetto vocalisation that sends shivers down the spine. The greatness of this song lies in the composition, with so many segments and elaborate writing, the sequence of notes, and the progression of chords. 

The line “Shuru Shuru” is just the beginning of this great song, and probably Santhosh’s great innings in Kannada. The amazing strings section begins to mesmerise, and this is omnipresent in this track. Karthik Manickavasagam is the man behind the string arrangements. The line that goes “ Helalu Hodare” is where we start feeling that grounded emotion, surrendering all our pride to the beauty of music. The man, Jayanth Kaikini, who has written numerous songs for the amazing Charan Raj, writes this too for Santhosh. The anupallavi is long and elaborate in times when the whole segment has gone missing in movie songs these days. “Usire Helide..Bisiyada Suddiya.. Heegeke Nannali.. Eedaha Omele..Idakintha Hattira..Neeninnu Bandare..Nanagantu Gotilla..Aamele” is a 25-second segment that serves as a launch pad for the song’s most beautiful melodical patch that numbs you for good. 

“Mella Bali Seladu” Sanjith starts singing with the continued string arrangements, and the heavy periodic rhythms, and the sweetest part of this melodic segment is “Helu Idu Nijave NIjave Nijave”. Santhosh is a rare gem who gives music lovers like us 2 minutes and 10 seconds with just the intro, pallavi, and anupallavi, in a world where songs last less than 2 minutes, making millions of views. The interlude has the string section in full flow, but what struck me even more were the basslines by Naveen Napier that played the same notes as the strings, but the finesse and style of the bass guitar made an even bigger impact. The charanam is about to begin, and the music lover in me is waiting eagerly, and that pause after “Nee” gives away all the sense of the song’s direction as the string arrangements act like a guiding stick for the lines that follow, like “Hoovina Peteya Mohaka Thangaali”. Listen to the harmonies that taunt you at the end of this phrase in true Santhosh style. 

Punya Selva joins so late but plays a perfect cameo with some blessed lines “Ee Mounave Thumba Mohaka Manase Maathanu Aadiduvaag”, and I couldn't have expected or predicted the progression of the melody in this entire phrase, whihc is what makes Santhosh the best that he is. That haunting humming by Punya in the background is one final kiss of goodbye from her in this track with the phrase “Naguve Naguve”. Santhosh, like I say endlessly, stands out as a composer because he is not looking for shortcuts. This phrase, “Chalisade Ninthirali Heege Ee Kshanavu,” is never heard anywhere else in the song, and yet Santhosh digs deep and writes a phrase at the end of the song for it to appear just once. Wait a minute, this whole phrase does appear in the interlude on the violins. That seems to be Santhosh’s unique style, and he did this with a song called “Pottala Muttaye” from ‘Thalaivan Thalaivi’. The outro strings are like a winning home run with time running out. A signature ending by the greatest of this generation! Thank you, Santhosh Narayanan. 

@musicsanthosh @priyawajanand @km.chaitanya @meenakshi_santhoshnarayanan @vinodprabhaakar_official @karthikmanickavasakam @punyasworld @sanjithhegde @napier_naveen 

2. Noodhana Noodhana

Vocals: Kapil Kapilan & Srinisha Jayaseelan

Lyrics: P. Vijay

Music composed by D. Imman

Language: Tamil

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

It is nice to hear how D. Imman still does a good job with his compositions, without letting the external trends and environment corrupt his style. This song comes from a new album called “Niram” and the song, despite its likable melody, gets the ultimate boost thanks to the two phenomenal lead vocalists Kapil Kapilan and Srinisha Jayaseelan. I love the line “Yaarenna sonnalum ketkala,” taking me back to Maestro’s “Pottu Vecha Malligamottu.” Imman composed, arranged, and produced this, bringing in some electronic pop elements onto the table, especially the keyboard and rhythm programming. 

As we head into the charanam, we get to hear some savvy vocals with both Srinisha and Kapil excelling in the high-pitched vibratos. The soundscape reminds one of Imman’s work in recent years, like the album “Teddy”. “Adi Adi Noodhana Noodhan, Unnai Vittu engum povana” is filled with all of Kapil’s great improvisation, and when Srinisha sings “Mayamo,” one will feel like a Maya surrounding us with a blanket. The combination of the Thavil and Nadaswaram in the outro gives the song a very traditional wedding style end. 

@srinisha_jayaseelan @immancomposer @kapilkapilanmusic

3. Dil Musafir

Vocals: Lucky Ali

Lyrics: Anvita Dutt

Composed by Vishal & Shekhar

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Groovy

When I listen to Vishal & Shekhar, their music back in the 2000s was spectacular and had the same quality and soundscape of legends like AR Rahman and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. With high expectations, I listened to their album in 2023, but I didn't like ‘Pathan’ much. However, the recent Bollywood album “Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri” had some good music, and this song was clearly one of the best I heard all week from across the nation. Lucky Ali is the lead vocalist, and it is fantastic to hear his voice; the man still gives us goosebumps. The electronic pop soundscape with a breezy melody works charmingly as Vishal And Shekhar handle the composition, and Abhijit Nalani does the arrangements and music production.

My favourite segment is when Lucky starts singing after a brief pause, “ Tu hii Manzil hai meri”, and the notes traverse in a way I would never have predicted subsequently. The chord progression in “Tujko Doondhe reh reh ke”, three me off guard in a beautiful and pleasant way. The keys and rhythms are just way too engaging, and then the chorus segment wins the heart once again with Lucky Ali’s humming and basslines appearing in the background. Vishal and Shekhar never settle for something short and repetitive, as Antara shows how well the duo can construct a melody. Abhijit scores with some fine string section arrangements in the Antara. Abhishek Khandelwal is the mixing/mastering engineer. I am in love with the synths and basslines throughout the song. Well done, guys, for giving something that Bollywood desperately needed. 

@vishaldadlani @shekharravijani @abhimixkardo @abhijitnalan

4. Milira 

Composed by Kailas

Lyrics: Mohan Rajan

Vocals: Chinmayi Sripada

Music Production: Kailas and Vaisakh Jyothis

Language: Tamil

Genre: Pop

Mood: Romantic

It has been a while since I featured Kailas Menon, and this is one single that not only demonstrates what he is capable of but also gives a classy singer like Chinmayi  to be associated with and thereby enhancing the song. This is a breezy, fast-paced pop single, and it works well with Chinmayi’s tone. I say this because I believe Chinmayi shines in pathos and slow-tempo songs, but was I wrong? She is stunning in delivering Mohan Rajan’s words with such ingrained romanticism. The rhythm programming keeps the song quite chirpy and engaging with that woodwind solo in the background. I love that line “En Nizhal enbathum Unai parthathum”, bringing on some delightful ghamakas. Shravan Sridhar’s solo on the violin gives teh song a semi-classical touch, a hint of Raag Abheri maybe. 

Subin plays the flute solo subsequently in the interlude. The writing and vocals are playful and teasing when she sings “ azhagaga nee poi solkiray, irundhalum pidikindradhey.” The rhythm guitar is accompanying right through with mild interventions by Shravan on the violin. It is in the charanam line “kaathal nee kanavu nee” where I felt some influences of Raag Darbari as well. Kudos to Vaisakh Jyothis and Kailash, who handle all the arrangements and music production. Subin takes over from Shravan, and it is the former’s turn now to keep playing those riffs and short phrases on the flute. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Ashbin Paul. 

@chinmayisripaada @kailasmenon2000 @akashmenon 

5. Mannichiru

Vocals: Sathyaprakash and Aanandi Joshi

Lyrics: Justin Prabhakaran

Composed, Arranged and Produced by Justin Prabhakaran

Language: Tamil

Genre: Light Music/Pop

Mood: Romantic

So much is being said about this new movie called ‘Sirai’ and for the meantime I'll have to focus on the music alone, with theatres in Mumbai having very few shows and at odd times. So far, from what I have heard on the album by Justin Prabhakaran, this is my favourite song. Abhinandan R David plays the acoustic and Nylon Guitars, giving it that romantic touch. Justin lives up to the expectations and creates this very hummable melody, and to that, his arrangements add sparks. Sathyaprakash, as always, brings a certain charm to the protagonist’s message of love and tenderness. I love the line “Ad yethana thadava naan mannippu kekka, un otthada othadaal enna mmm mm mmm”, which is very clear and implicit thanks to Justin’s creative writing. 

The chorus is elevating thanks to all the splendid singers on board, like Shibi Srinivasan, Govind Prasad, Aravind Annest, Sriradha Bharath, Ayshwarya VUM, Aarthi MN Ashwin, and Padmaja Sreenivasan. How can you not sing along and nod your head to “manam manam dhinam unnai azhaikka, tha na na na na”? The piano-led interlude, featuring choral humming and guitars, reminds me of Raag Hamsadhwani influences. “Kandanakaaari Thandana Thaadi”, accompanied by the counterpoint on the Piano, gives mild goosebumps thanks to the writing and arrangements. Naveen Napier is the bassist, and all the additional programming is by Sebastian Sathish. I must get up and clap my hands for the way Aanandi Joshi sings her lines with such perfect enunciation and diction in Tamil, a feat even many legends have messed up. “En samathula natchathiram nagarndhiruchu” is an example. The tracks are mixed by Balu Thankachan and mastered by Shadab Rayeen. 

@prabhakaranjustin @dsathyaprakash @aanandijoshi @zee5tamil @anishma_anilkumar__ @aarthi_mn_ashwin @sriradha_bharath @abinandan_r @napier_naveen @sebastiansathishmusic @shadabrayeen @aravindd_annestt 

6. Chendipooova

Vocals: Sublahshini

Lyrics: Muthamil

Composed, Arranged, and Produced by Mohammed Maqbool Mansoor

Language: Tamil

Genre: Folk/Light Music

Mood: chirpy

I have been waiting for this movie to release in theatres in Mumbai, after the movie's resounding screening in film festivals. We are taken to the rural parts of Tamil Nadu with this slow folkish song. The wide array of percussion creates a great bed for the song’s melody to lie on and flourish. Mohammed Mqbool Mansoor is the composer and producer.  The vocals by Sublashini are like the shining light giving the song its true purpose. She has had a brilliant year as a playback singer, and this single is proof of the diverse skills and vocal prowess that Sublahshini possesses. Sruthi Raj is in charge of all the percussion, with Josy John on bass and Santhosh Chandran on guitars. The additional production and arrangements are by Nimal V, and Anand Kashinathan. 

I love the interlude, which feels like a hat-tip to all the amazing folkish music we have heard in Tamil Cinema in the 1980s and 1990s. Nikhil Ram is playing the flute solo, and Mohammaed Maqbool is the backing vocalist performing the humming. The child chorus comprising Sajani, Idazhiga, AR Sai Lakshmi and AR Sai Shreya is beautiful and tranquil as always when used like this, interjecting in between all the pauses in the charanam. I hear some Morsing being used as well, all to give more colour and authenticity to the folkish genre. Sublahshini brings on some innocence and playfulness in all her delivery. The string arrangements in the second interlude and during other portions are eloquent, making the listener feel light. The strings are played by Herald Antony, Francis Xavier, and Albin Jose. The outro with the kids’ chorus and the upbeat Thavil is lively. The recording is by Fenn and Kashyap. The mixing and mastering is by Midhun Anand. 

@mohammedmaqboolmansoor @sublahshini @muthamilrms @stonebenchers @kailasam.geetha @nikhilramtp @josybass_official @santhosh_chandran_ @francisxavier_violin @midhunanand_official 

7. Nanna Ninna Preeti Saakara

Singers: Anirudh Shastry, Sneha Hegde 

Music Director: Chandan Shetty 

Lyricist: Srujan Lokesh

Language: Kannada

Genre: Light Music 

Mood: Romantic

We have another beautiful melody from the Sandalwood industry, as Chandan Shetty composes it and Srujan Lokesh pens the lyrics. The lead vocalists and Anirudh Shastry, and Sneha Hegde adding such romanticism to the delivery. That one hook line with a melodious phrase on the whistle at the end of the Pallavi is the most favourite segment that keeps playing on my mind. The accompanying rhythm section is catchy as well, and the song scores because of Chandan’s ability to keep writing soulful phrases like “Ene Helu, Neene Prana” sung like an unforgettable dream with that mild Vijayprakash tone.

The lovely phrase now comes as a flute in the interlude, followed by a stunning Flute melody and Sarod intervention. This is admirable work by Chandan because interludes as a concept are dying away slowly. The rhythm guitar follows all the way, but the champion that just won't quit is the solo on teh flute.  I am hearing Sneha for the very first time, and I must admit that her voice is loaded with such saccharine qualities. 

@chandanshettyofficial @theasrsings @snehaa_hegde_satanakeri @srujanlokesh