Top Indian Songs of the week 2nd April 2023

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 2nd April 2023. 

If you are a musician submit your new music here.

1. Amalina Asura

Singer: Sowmya Mahadevan

Lyrics: Vanamali

Music: Balamurali Balu

Language: Telugu

Genre: Filmi Melody

Are we getting to relive a Maestro Ilaiyaraja's greatness through such amazing music? I guess so. Balamurali Balu has composed, produced and arranged this brilliant song that just took me back in time to the 1980s of Tamil and South Indian music in general. Sowmya Mahadevan has sung the song and she makes not a single misstep in delivering this beauty. 

The song very vividly reminds me of a phenomenal number called "ennulle ennulle" sung by Swarnalatha and composed by Ilaiyaraja, although the mood in that was more of pathos. The prominent presence of acoustic guitars and the bass guitar is just noteworthy as we can hear them playing in the background with notes written for them separately.

The interlude is a continuation of the guitars with a very soothing female humming as well. Sowmya sings in the lower pitch with amazing grace and efficacy and she brings about these mild ghamakas as well, overall it is a very impressive vocal performance by her. The stanza has even more melodious notes and Balamurali brings a lot of variation in the stanza making the whole song a very heartwarming experience. The acoustic guitar is just phenomenal as we get to the outro portion.

The lyricist is Vanamali. 

2. Manasilum Pookkalam

Music Composed and Produced by Sachin Warrier

Lyrics: Kaithapram

Singer: Sachin Warrier

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Filmi Pop

This is glorious mainly from the production and arrangement perspective as Sachin Warrier excels in all these elements as the composer and producer. Sachin also is the lead vocalist but a huge reason for the song's positive impact comes from the group vocals performed by the famous El Fé Choir. Roe Vincent is the soul of this performing group of vocalists. The song's lyrics are penned by Kaithapram. The song begins with a lot of keyboards and then a trumpet and once the vocals begin, you will have a tough time trying to focus because the song is as much about the backing vocals as it is about the lead vocals. 

The humming leads the way in the interlude but a brilliant solo by Punya Srinivas on the Veena just magnifies the quality of the interlude and the song multifold. Akash S accompanies on bass guitars and the two instruments just combine like cake and cheery on top. 

The stanza is relatively short, but Punya continues to play her Veena right through and she becomes a hugely important cog in the song's wheel. The line that gets repeated in the outro " nyanum neeyum cherave" is beautifully done with the backing vocals and Keys. Vishnu Raj, Sanjay Sukumaran, Akshay Kakkoth and Sachin are the recording engineers, and the song is mixed by Harishankar V, assisted by Akshay, and Emin Babu and it is mastered by Gethin John. 

3. Bairiya 

Music Composed and Produced by: Goldie Sohel

Singer: Arijit Singh

Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya

Music Producers: Manash Borthakur, Goldie Sohel and Ishan Das

Language: Hindi

Genre: Indie Melody 

I feel like suddenly Arijit Singh is back again to his best with 'O Bedardeya a couple of weeks ago and now this. According to me, a song's ultimate quality comes out only if the composition and production are excellent. Vocals and lyrics can carry a song only far enough. That is why this fantastic song by a very fine composer/producer Goldie Sohel is just captivating to hear, and Arijit glorifies it even further.  

The song has been collectively produced by Manash Borthakur, Goldie Sohel and Ishan Das. The bass guitars by Dibyajyoti Nath along with the mesmerising Rabab by Tapas Roy take us on a spiritual drive already. Tapas also played a few more ethnic strokes in the song. Arijit's magic comes out even in this mild and all-too-easy vibrato when he sings "tera kuch bhee nahin main ye bol ke". Amitabh Bhattacharya pens the beautiful words as is expected of this man. 

The title line feels meditative when we listen to it thanks to the singing and production. The interlude has some more Rabab magic and Arijit going into his experimental aalap mode in the background. The stanza brings out more of Arijit's stringpoints. The drums stand out thanks to Nawaz Hussain who keeps the rhythm going. Ishan Das, the master plays the scintillating electric guitars as well as the acoustic guitars and we can just enjoy the outro with the saptaswaras being sung by Arijit. Apparently it is set under the influence of Raag Naagagandhari

The track is mixed and mastered by Pankaj Borah with the drums mixed by Trihangku Lahakar, and Sukanto and Ashish Anand are the recording engineers. Gagan Sohel assists Goldie as the musical assistant

Read about the multilingual versions of Kesariya Balam here.

4. Akarey Nei Bikarey Nei 

Performed by Mainak Bhattacharyya

Written by Pralay Sarkar

Language: Bangla

Genre: Indie pop/Alt-pop

When someone breaks away from the trend we get to see or hear something delightful and fresh. In Bangla music, there has been a tendency to stick with semi-classical melody as the style with many still trying to emulate the great man Rabindranath Tagore. Pralay Sarkar composes and writes this delightful and breezy pop single. 

Mainak Bhattacharya is up to the task as the vocalist as he sings with panache and style. The vocal harmonies are well written, executed and arranged as well. The keys keep accompanying making it very pleasant at times, but when the synths turn up you feel the energy and this is like a splendid Coldplay song that ticks all the boxes of an Alt-pop style as well. Kudos to the team for the overall programming, production and all vocal arrangements which sound fantastic towards the outro. Anis Ahmed is the guitarist.

5. Nadiye

Composed & Arranged: 4 Musics

Singer: Deepak J R

Lyrics: Jis Joy

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Indie Pop Fusion

I have become a fan of '4 Musics' the band, and proof of that comes about in the number of times I have featured their work here on my website. This too is a melodious single with a lot of classical music influence. Deepak J R is the lead vocalist and he has this touch of romance that sounds fresh also. The lovely lyrics that breathe an air of love are penned by Jis Joy.

The accompanying live instruments like the flute by Rajesh Cherthala and the Veena by Biju Annamanada add great depth and colour to the tune itself. The rhythm programming gives the modern soundscape and Nihil Jimmy handles all the programming. The flute solo in the interlude kind of makes me wonder if there is some Hamsadwani Ragam, which further gets accentuated by the classical Veena.

I love the Western influence thanks to the splendid bass guitars in the background by the brilliant Sumesh Parameswar who played the acoustic guitar in the song. Anju Abraham, Aruna Mary George & Devna S contribute as backing vocalists. The intervention of the Veena and the flute is just beautiful, lifting the whole listening experience. Harishankar has done the mixing and mastering with Deepak handling the Vox fine-tuning. 

6. Kadhi Na Tula

Music composed, arranged, produced, conducted: Ajay - Atul

Lyrics: Guru Thakur

Singer: Sid Sriram

Language: Marathi

Genre: Ballad

The dynamic duo of Ajay-Atul are not a force that can be stopped easily. Since their superb scores for 'Ved', the duo go on to create this wonderful song from their album 'Jaggu aani Juliet'. The song is heavy on synths and keys and the credit goes to Ajay- Atul. The duo have composed, produced, programmed, arranged and conducted the strings section also that we hear. 

We do hear the woodwinds too in the interlude. Sid Sriram tends to have a problem with his diction in most languages and this is true even for his mother tongue Tamil, and when I asked a few native Marathi speakers they did not complain much about this song atleast. The stanza is composed with that combination of mystique and calmness and the with Sid's unadulterated rendition, devoid of many ghamakas, we feel like being around a pleasant streamlet of water flowing. 

The closing segment of the stanza especially with the keyboards feels like some of Ajay-Atul's works like in the album 'Sairat'. The way the stanza closes and lands on the opening lines now feels like the stream just got enraged and now flowing like a violent river. Vijay Dalal is the recording and mixing engineer with Chinmay Mestry assisting in the recording. The mastering engineer is Gethin Johnat Haford Mastering (Whales). 

7. Nigah Mardah Ayi Ve

Singer/Lyricist/Composer: Gurnam Bhullar

Music Director: Gaurav Dev, Kartik Dev

Language: Punjabi

Genre: Folk/Ballad Fusion

Here comes a captivating ballad sung, written and composed by Gurnam Bhullar. The emotionally charged and involved singing style of Gurnam really helps the song gain traction. Gaurav Dev and Kartik Dev are the producers and they have done a fine job getting all the ethnic strokes and strings in place including that resonant flute solo that keeps intervening

The title line has a huge shift in rhythm and energy with backing vocals and folk percussions adding beautifully. The arrangements of all the instruments have a huge bearing on the song's outcome, and it is wonderful how the song moved from being pathos in the mood to full-on cheerful later. There is possibly an influence of Raag Desh here and the song is mixed and mastered by Akash Bambar and Gurjinder Guri.

8. Arre Ithu Yentha Bhavane 

Vocals: Haricharan

Music: B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Lyrics: Yogaraj Bhat

Language: Kannada

Genre: Filmi Melody

It has been more than a few months after B. Ajaneesh Loknath's superlative success of 'Kantara' and he strikes again with an outstanding melody for the new album "Hoysala". Haricharan's singing and delivery call us out with open arms and why won't we approach the song with love when he sings like this?

The saxophone-led interlude gives way to the stanza where Haricharan further enthrals us. The additional elements here like the Keys, the bass guitars, backing vocals and the strings section give depth and so many more reasons to enjoy the song for connoisseurs as well. We return to the old school pattern of music with Ajaneesh creating two stanzas and two interludes as we used to have back in the 1990s and 2000s. 

9. Aami Jaani Re

Singer: Madhubanti Bagchi

Composed by: Amit Trivedi

Produced by: Rahul Tiwari & Amit Trivedi

Lyrics: Kausar Munir

I have been critical of some of the music coming from Amit Trivedi in 2022, but that is not to mean that there have been no great songs on and off. This EP called "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" did have 2 very good songs and this one ended up being my favourite. Amit gets every element of Bangla musical influences spot on. The ethnic strokes and other percussions are all reflective of the style of music. 

Madhubanti Bagchi who has been having a purple patch of sorts has once again delivered a terrific performance here as the lead vocalist. I have featured her more than a few times in the last few months and we know why. The tender emotions of a mother singing a lullaby come out so well in her rendition and the most interesting bit was the way the song began with "Rock a bye baby" probably indicates the mix of Western and Indian cultural differences and confusion under which the protagonist lives in the movie. The song may have influences from Raag Bilawal. 

Kausar Munir is the lyricist and she extracts every bit of the mother-child emotion and bond through her words. The lines that touched me are " Sar par nahin mera haath hai, darne ki aisi kya baat hai, dhuayein hai toh tere saath re". Tapas Roy the magician plays all the ethnic strokes, and Kiriti Prabar Das is on the percussion. Aryan Tiwari plays the guitar, and we have both Madhubanti and Kausar on the chorus. Urmila Sutar is the sound engineer and the song is mixed and mastered by Shadab Rayeen with assistance from Pukhraj Sonkar and Anup Gandharla

10. Kanula Chata Meghama

Singers - Aabhas Joshi & Aalap Lipsika

Lyricist - Lakshmi Bhupala

Music Composer - Kalyani Malik

Programming -Varada Raju

Language: Telugu

Genre: Semi-classical Melody

There have been a few songs released in the album 'Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi', and this one was my favourite. Kalyani Malik is the composer and he along with Varada Raju on programming has cooked up a beautiful recipe. Venu plays the Tabla and we hear glimpses of the Sitar played by Kishore.

I am extremely glad to see Aabhas Joshi perform here, as I have been a huge fan of Aabhas-Shreyas the brother duo who have had two amazing years of Indie music releases. The strings section has some excellent arrangements in the background. Aalap Lipsika can be heard doing mild and sweet humming and when the Sarangi played by Sarfraz Khan comes up I sense an influence of Raag Yamunakalyani. 

The combination of the Sarangi and the Tabla is pure magic leading up to the stanza, and it feels wonderful to hear all the improvisations, the ghamakas and the appropriate diction of Aabhas. The second interlude has Kishore doing his solo on the Sitar and the melody only enthrals us more. This song takes us back to the 1960s when music used to shine like 24-carat gold. The song is mixed and mastered by AP SanthaSekha and the sound engineer is Rakesh Mickey. 

11. Without You

Performed by Sukruth Mallesh

Written by Sukruth Mallesh

Produced by Sukruth Mallesh, Siddhart Kamath

Language: English

Genre: Indie pop

I have not had the opportunity of reviewing Sukruth Mallesh's music before this, but this track truly deserved it. The Keys unlock the beauty of the track and we have Sukruth writing, composing and performing the vocals. The song is produced to perfection with Siddhart Kamath on board with Sukruth.

My favourite line is "All these things are nothing if it ain't with you babe", and it is Sukruth's falsetto and the fantastic strings section in the background that make it sound so awesome. The lines lead up to the title line "Without you" and this is both a well-composed tune as well as an outstanding production. As we approach the second half of the song the rhythm programming too contributes positively to pep up the energy.

Akash Shivakumar plays the electric guitars, and the song has some nicely executed and arranged vocal harmonies. Vivek Thomas handles the exquisite mixing and mastering of the track. In every department, this song scores well. 

Read and listen to the best from Indian Music from last week here.

12. Digital Conversations

Performed by Avora Records

Written by Avora Records

Produced by Paul Sungte

Language: English

Genre: Indie pop

This Aizawl-based band is back again with a brilliantly haunting new single and I am glad I have not been let down by them, especially after their prior single 'Misfits' which I adored and featured back in September 2022. Stephen Hnamte is the vocalist, Khos Hmar and Ruata Renthlei are the guitarists, CK Hauzel is the bassist and Sanga Ralte is the drummer

The guitars and drums keep marching on and the vocals are dreamy and make us just float above the ground viscerally. The lyrics are very touching, descriptive and meaningfully written as well as they go " full disclosure, pull her closer, clothes are falling sheets unfolding". 

The change in the song's trajectory happens when the lines go jealousy hates me", and from being dreamy the voice now starts to haunt me and make me cry in pain for the protagonist as he sings in that high pitch "she won't be with me when lights go out" 

13. Yeh Raat

Song Composer: Hitesh Sonik

Lyrics: Devanshu and Geet

Singer : Sunidhi Chauhan

Song Production: Dipanjan Guha

Genre: Ballad

This is one movie I am very much looking forward to watching, despite being a flop at the box office. Nandita Das is supremely talented and sensitive to important social issues as a storyteller and she makes a good choice here by getting Hitesh Sonik as the music composerm who is Sunidhi Chauhan's spouse. 

This movie is a very realistic feel-good movie that talks about a modest lower-middle income family and hence the music too tries to achieve exactly that mood. Nothing pompous or extravagant but simple and honest. Sunidhi Chauhan has a field day performing the vocals and the song's adequate and relevant instrument choices and arrangements come through well thanks to the production of Dipanjan Guha. The lyrics are penned by Devanshu and Geet. 

The feeling I get as I listen to Sunidhi's lines and the interlude is that there is a retro effect to this song as well. Tapas Roy plays the Banjo. She is excellent and sounds like a sorceress pulling you towards her when she sings the low-pitch lines in the stanza. The acoustic guitars start accompanying and teasing us towards the end, and the sound of the strings section delivers mild pathos. Tanay Gajjar has mixed and mastered the song. 

14. Ormakal Orupaadu

Singer: Sithara Krishnakumar

Music: Jecin George

Lyrics: Remya Radharam

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Ballad

The story of 'Rekha' on OTT seems to intrigue and confounds us with mystery. Who better to bring out these emotions vocally than Sithara Krishnakumar, when she sings in the deep low pitch? Jecin George is the composer and he is being featured by me for the very first time. 

The heavy rhythms add to the feeling of darkness, but the melody is helped along by guitars and Keys. The humming by both the lead and backing vocals is another interesting element. 

The interlude is simple with just the sound of strokes and when the stanza continues, we get further drawn by the sheer power in Sithara's voice and her ability to twist and turn at her will. The humming " na na na naa" is just addictive 

15. Falling in love with you

Singer: Salman Khan (actor)

Music Composition, arrangements, orchestration: Amaal Mallik

Lyrics: Shabbir Ahmed

Language: Hindi

Genre: Ballad/ Pop

I never once dreamt that I would be featuring a song sung by the actor Salman Khan. Well, it is stranger than fiction, but it is happening right now. The lion's share of the credit must go to this fine composer Amaal Mallik as he shines brightly amid all the darkness surrounding Bollywood Original music. 

Salman has not done too badly at all, as he makes sure he sings the notes on key. The slightly Westernised diction of Hindi is a little weird but nothing too glaring to take your focus away. Aditya Dev and Amaal are the producers with all additional production coming from guitarist/producer Vaibhav Pani and Riz Shain. 

The highlight for me was the Violin solo in the interlude played by Yadnesh Raikar. The stanza is relatively short but the tune, its catchy nature and the production make up for that. Yadnesh is on fire playing the Violin Solo in the outro bits. Ishan Das and Vaibhav Pani play the guitars and the backing vocals we hear are both performed and arranged by Suzanne D'mello. The song is mixed and mastered by Shadab Rayeen and the music assistants are Luvdeep Saini (LDS), Gaurav Sanghvi, Rujul Deolikar, Anvay Patil, Ankush Bhardwaj and Vivek Bharti