Top Indian Songs of the week 31st December 2023

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 31st December 2023. 

1. Sun Khwaab Re

Performed by Jaasmaan, Jince Mathew, Magisha

Written by Jaasmaan R

Produced by Jince Mathew

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music

Jaasmaan Rathore's music acts like a time capsule, whereby it transports us to an earlier decade when Bollywood music was good. This is the second song from his new album " Scratch Singer" that I am featuring and the common factor between both the songs is that the underlying melody is rich, hummable and heartwarming. Jaasmaan has written and sung it and the resemblance to Sonu Nigam's texture and tone is uncanny and unmistakable. 

Jince Mathew handles most of the song's outstanding arrangements and production and that is what elevates a good composition into a higher orbital. The song hardly gets past the sthayi and antara segments and we already get a load of strings, the flute, Piano, guitars and much more. The melody reminds me "Meri Mehbooba" from the album 'Pardes'. After a delightful guitar-flute Jugalbandhi in the interlude, we are bombarded with creative and splendid instrumental interventions in the stanza. 

The flute and the Piano continue to titillate us in the stanza but the Violin solo interventions stand out like during the line " ajnabee raah par, ik thikaana mil gaya". Sruthi Balamurali plays both the Violin and Flute, while it is Sumesh Parameswar on guitars. Jince Mathew, take a bow for these mindblowing arrangements. 

The second interlude has a touching electric guitar interlude almost sounding like a Mohan Veena, and then the flute, violin and strings section follow. Magisha joins the party late but she does make an impact nevertheless on vocals. The bassist is Andre' Vasconcellos, and Jaasmaan handles the bass and vocal arrangements. Keshav Dhar is the mix and master engineer. 

@jaasmaanrathore @mathewjince @magishamusic @parameswarsumesh @tnbsruthi @andrevasconcellosbx @keshavdhar @megharainaa

2. Jaabili Jaana

Music director : Kalyan Nayak

Singers: Vijay Yesudas, Sitara Krishnakumar  

Lyrics: M.V.S Bharadwaj 

Arrangements: Jonathan Joseph 

Language: Telugu

Genre: Light Music

Even before we get to Vihay Yesudas' vocals, the flute and the bass guitars lay the foundation for what's about to come and cradle us away into oblivion and tranquillity. Nikhil Ram plays the flute, and we have Sumesh Parameswar on all the guitars. Vijay has been featured after a noticeable hiatus on this website and I am happy that we have his voice back to serenading us. 

Kalyan Nayak is the composer of the tune and he is the music director, but a big shoutout to the arrangements by Jonathan Joseph. We hear multiple layers of live instruments like the flutes, guitars and strings section coming and getting juxtaposed in the interlude. Cochin Strings is responsible for this and we have Laksmikanth and Kalyan Nayak on all the additional arrangements. The stanza continues and it gets richer in the melody quotient. 

if Vijay's voice wasn't enough to hallucinate us, we got another Diva in Sithara Krishnakumar to hit the final nail in the coffin and leave us for dead. Vijay creates a wave of serenity but Sithara induces a sense of longing and pathos through her vocals. The tracks are mixed by Vivek Thomas, with Aditya G assisting, and Dnal Whelan is the mastering engineer. 

@kalyannayak_official @nilave_cheli @shreyasi.sen @thevijayyesudas @sitharakrishnakumar @vivekthomasproductions @nikhilramtp @parameswarsumesh

@musicproducer.jo @cochinstrings 

3. Disinformation

Performed by NOK NOK

Written by Amar Pandey, Nikhil Vasudevan, Sumant Balakrishnan

Produced by Amar Pandey, Ritwik De, Krishna Rao

Language: English

Genre: Rock

This New Delhi-based Rock band drew my attention with this new EP called "NVRSTP" and I loved a couple of songs at least. When I was reading about them, the trio took inspiration from some of my favourites like Green Day, and I must agree that the work of NOK NOK is serious and not to be trivialised like a knock-knock joke. 

The band members are Sumant Balakrishnan, Nikhil Vasudevan and Amar Pandey and they have written this song. The song however is produced by Ritwik De, Krishna Rao and Amar. Ritwik plays the Piano and handles the Synths The guitars and drums are pumping in the adrenaline and within seconds the velocity reaches 100 from 0. The melody is very hummable and that is what makes the song special because rock genre songwriters tend to forget that the underlying melody matters too. Nikhil plays the drums, Amar is the bassist and he also plays guitars, whileSumant is the lead guitarist. 

Once we get to the chorus segment the pulsating electric guitars, stylish bass and thumping drums make sure there is no return now. The vocals not only come in the form of a lead but also through backing vocal layers. When we get the lines " Disinformation, fools the nation" it feels haunting. For the stunning production, vocals and arrangements, this has to end up being one of the finest Indian Indie songs of 2023 for me. The outro is long and feels like ambrosia for the music lover. The tracks are mixed by Krishna Rao at Lotustree Studios and mastered at Hafford Mastering. 

@noknoknewdelhi @theaxemanrips @_amarpandey_ @zokovnaice @mkrishnarao @lotustreestudios 

4. Aas Lagi Hai

Performed by Amitabh Bhattacharya, Asees Kaur, Harjot Kaur, Mandy Gill, Shashwat Singh, Sunny M.R.

Written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, Sunny M.R.

Language: Punjabi

Genre: Folk-Rock

The people were raving about this Sony Liv series called "Chamak" especially for its writing and music. When I listened to the whole album I did like the soundscape but loved two songs in particular and this was one of them. Asees Kaur has this enchanting voice, that is so distinct from the crowd and it is enough to bring a smile to a face. The other opening lines are performed by Harjot Kaur as the other female lead vocalist with the line " rikhe mann ko apni chhuan se"vand the difference in textures is brought on to the table with Asees on the prowl. 

Sunny MR is an amazing composer/producer and he shines brightly in this score. He gets the fusion and folk and pop music spot on and the lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya aid in getting the message across. Shashwat Singer is too talented to be missing from all the action and he is right there where he deserves to be with this glorious vocal performance. The chorus segments need some strong and able voices and we have Mandy Gill, and Harrjot Kaur along with Asees and Shashwat.

The folk percussions are stunning in detail and arrangements and the solo vocals by Mandy towards the end resonate perfectly like how they should emanate from the villages of Punjab. 

@sunnymr @aseeskaurmusic @the_mandygill @ruaakayy @shashwatsinghofficial @amitabhbhattacharyaofficial 

5. Lilith

Performed by Ron B, Zuboski

Written by Prerona Baruah, Zubin Davala

Language: English

Genre: Rock

It's been more than a year since I featured Prerona (Ron B) and Zubin (Zuboski) 's debut single called 'Taxi Driver'. The wait had been worth it. The song is written by Ron B and Zuboski and it is not only a hummable melody but also has intelligent penmanship. The singing is the soul of the song with Ron B exercising great vocal traits and Ron makes sure the tougher to execute baritone notes are done exceptionally well. 

The song's production is flawless, with the intensity rising like mercury on the electric guitars and drums. But Zuboski also ensures that there are quieter segments with just mild drums and accompanying guitars acting as supporting actors to Ron's vocals. The sizzling bass and electric guitars along with layers of vocal harmonies combine to decorate the song eloquently. There is an overall Nickelback-unique texture to the song. Ayushi handles the wonderful cover art. 

@ronkenbie @zuboski91 @lyri_c

6. Khoya Khoya

Performed by Dhruv Ghanekar, Riya Duggal, Yatharth

Written by Dhruv Ghanekar, Ishitta Arun

Language: Hindi

Genre: Folk/Light Music

Dhruv Ghanekar is one of India's finest composers and this producer and guitarist has been featured on my website for some phenomenal music. Finally, after a brief hiatus, he gets featured here again. This time he releases a musical called "Mumbai Star" that bends across multiple genres. This however was my favourite song from the album. 

This has a tone similar to an ARR Rahman production, and If I am not wrong, there were traces of Raag Hamsadhwani. Yatharth and Riya Duggal are the lead singers and they do a fantastic job of portraying the emotions of the protagonists. The flute solo in the interlude, the strings section, the Keys the vocal harmonies and all the thumping rhythms are great assets to the song. Dhruv showcases his potential by arranging, programming and producing the song to suit all our liking and he stands out in a crowd of remixes. Ishitta Arun is the lyricist who puts together these beautiful words. 

@dhruvg @isthatyatharth @the_duggal_gal @wahwahrecordsofficial @ishitta.arun 

7. Daata

Singer: Rekha Bhardwaj, Arnab Dutta

Music: Protijyoti Ghosh

Lyrics: Saurabh Shukla

Language: Hindi

As the year comes to a close, we have a barrage of content on OTT, but not everything qualifies as good work. This movie called "Dry Day" was supposed to be a political/social satire of sorts but fell short. The music was just about decent but I liked this song. It is sung by Rekha Bhardwaj and that in itself is a huge factor for the song's ultimate output. 

It is composed by Protijyoti Ghosh and he amps up the melody with such rich and beautiful notes. It does remind me of Raag Bhimpalasi in certain places and the lead vocals along with the harmonies. Saurabh Shukla is the lyricist. The rhythms and percussions are folkish and one must fall in love with the chorus lines " Ab tu hi mera daata" and with the strings section rising in intensity and captivating the heart. The solo flute by Roshan, solo violin by Avishek Sinha and probably the Dotara by Protijyoti provide a texture that resembles a bhajan. Arnab Dutta complements Rekha ji as the male lead vocalist. 

The song is successful in creating the effect of a mild but meaningful anthem. The mild Sarod we hear is played by the magical Pratik Srivastava, and the guitars are by Amborish Saikia. 

@protijyotimusic @rekha_bhardwaj @arnabduttamusic @roshanflute @amborish_saikia_ @sarodpratik @saurabhshuklafilms

 8. Ek Tara

Singer: Vishal Mishra, Madhubanti Bagchi

Music: Anurag Saikia

Lyricist: Vijay Maurya

Music Produced by Oblong Sioni, Bishal Sharma, Ishan Das

Language: Hindi

Genre: Filmi Pop

People have been giving this movie "Mast Mein Rehne Ka" very good reviews and it is out on Amazon Prime. I straight away listened to the OST and found a couple of good songs. This was my favourite in the album and it prides itself on an ethereal combination of musicians like Anurag Saikia, Visjal Mishra and Madhubanti Bagchi. 

Anurag has been on fire in the last few months composing and producing some outstanding work for various projects and this song is a great way to end 2023. We have not just 1, but two majestic guitarists Ishan Das and Shomu Seal playing the guitars and strokes and it all starts on this note. Vishal Mishra conquers the heart with his vocals and how he manages to emote and sing every note with such perfection will remain a mystery in 2024 too. 

Anurag has this knack for composing a good hummable melody and then his team gets together and produce it with such finesse. Oblong Sioni, Bishal Sharma, Ishan Das are the producers. The Alt-Pop nature of the song works well and the chorus segment is the highlight with Vishal singing " Taara Tat Taara". Credit must go to the effective and stylish keyboard and rhythm programming team. 

There is a segment in the interlude with Tejas Vinchurkar's woodwinds and the female humming that I felt like I was listening to Raag Hamsadhwani. The backing vocals are performed and arranged by Gauranga Shekhar, Pratikhyaa Sarma and Bishal Sharma. I was waiting eagerly for Mashubanti's foray and finally, she does in the stanza, with the tone shifting to a melodious semi-classical tune. The Tabla dominates and Garuranga handles the additional programming bits. 

The portion where Vishal and Madhubanti sing in union "ek taara tim timaya" in varied vocal pitches sounds magical. Trihangku Lahkar is the recording and mix/master engineer

9. Plasticine

Performed by Dot.

Written by Aditi Saigal, Dot.

Language: English

Genre: Jazz

It is painful to see sometimes that many talented people come to be known to a larger crowd, not necessarily after their best work, but from a minor appearance in somebody's popular work. Having said that, how does it matter, because if one is committed, hardworking and talented, the world will find out about you. 

I felt this when Tripti Dimri the amazing performer from "Bulbul" and "Qala" on Netflix, only became popular after people saw "Animal". SImialry back in 2022 I featured Dot. in her amazing EP called "Khamotion", but the world had to wait for "Archies" to find out about this enormously talented singer-songwriter. This Piano-dominant Album truly feels like a session in "Practice Room". In the real world, I couldn't have imagined even hearing, let alone featuring something that feels raw. But I can bet that not many can come close to Aditi Saigal (Dot.) in creating this kind of beauty despite its unfinished sound design.

The composition, vocals and execution of the Piano are so meticulous and sparkling. My only minuscule complaint is that even under the best lossless audio of Apple, I wish I could hear her voice and vibrato beyond the Piano. 

@dotandthesyllables @dinesh_ahuja @_felixmedia_ @thememusic 

10. Karayaruthe

Singers: Sakthishree Gopalan, Vishnu Vijay

Music Composed, Arranged and produced by Vishnu Vijay

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Light Music/Folk

Vishnu Vijay, the flautist, is one of the most interesting composers in the country today, as he never walks the path taken by the masses. His scores have a whacky and creative nature which many would envy and only dream of incorporating in their own compositions. This one however is a bit more straight forward and the highlights are Shakthisree's magnetic voice and Keba's flowy and persistent guitars. 

The anupallavi is beautifully composed with rich melodious notes. Vishnu brings in elements of folk music, with that male humming in the background and he also displays his potential by composing certain notes which are tough to predict when the song progresses. It becomes a lullaby when she sings "ra ri ra ri" and vocally I think this will be as good if not more profound and complex than her performance in PS2 's "Aga Naga" earlier in 2023.

The prowess of Keba as he fiddles with the classical guitar in the background when she sings " theerathe theerathe anandham" is nothing just of mesmerising. Kashyap Ram Mohan, Rohan Harris, and Sanjay Romauld are the recording engineers and we have Sujith Sreedhar on mixing and mastering at The Master House, 2bq Studios, Chennai. 

 @vishnuvijay01 @shakthisreegopalan @ibasiljoseph @lakshmi_the_warrior @sujithsreedhar

11. Ishq Nachawe

Singer: Rashmeet Kaur

Rapper: Yashraj

Music Composers: Karan Kanchan & Rashmeet Kaur

Lyrics: Dhrruv Yogi

Rap Lyrics: Yashraj

Producer: Karan Kanchan 

Language: Punjabi/Hindi

I just recently released the album review of "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan", and gave it a decent 3/5 rating thanks to some likeable original music, and creative fusion of styles. "Ishq Nachaave" along with "Teri Yeh Baatein" are my picks from the album and if the latter had this hypnotic-styled electronic music by OAFF and Savera, the former is some sizzling and groovy folk-hiphop fusion. Rashmeet Kaur and Karan Kanchan are the composers.

Who better to perform the vocals than the stunning Rashmeet herself and she raises the mercury level of the room single-handedly with her delivery? Listen to the heavy rhythms, and the mild piano, but don't forget to pay attention to the strings section too. After the initial segment, Yashraj chips in with the thumping rap performance, and you will just shake your head no matter your mood. 

Despite the song's simple structure, it is extremely engaging thanks to the arrangements and overall production. Ankur Tewari is the music supervisor and we have Hanish Taneja mixing at Studio Alika, and Prathmesh DUdhane, mixing engineer at Bombay Live Studios. Gethin John is the mastering engineer. 

@karankanchanmusic @kauraverse @dhrruvyogi @yashraj @ankurtewari @mixedbyhanish @prathmeshdudhane

12. The Flandy Song

Performed by Abhijeeth Dubey, Asura, Damini Bhatla, Hemachandra Vedala, Nawab Gang, Suparna Vontair, Yashwanth Nag

Written by Rupak, Yashwanth Nag

Produced by Yashwanth Nag

Language: Telugu

Genre: Indie Pop

The song that straightaway comes to my mind when I hear this stylish song is AR Rahman's " Enakku oru girlfriend" from the Tamil movie album 'Boys'. The song has a nice fusion of Dance Pop and some Reggae thanks to the enjoyable rhythms. The song is written by Rupak and Yashwanth Nag and the latter does the production. 

Just as much as the song's arrangements, programming and production, the vocals too are effectively executed creating a liking for the number. We have a good line-up of vocalists with some singing in Alt Hip-Hop style and others in classical Carnatic. Another stylish and creative song that I am reminded of is AR Rahman's "Ye Ye enna aachu unakku" from his album 'Kadhal Virus'. The vocals are performed with amazing poise by Abhijeeth Dubey, Asura, Damini Bhatla, Hemachandra Vedala, Nawab Gang, Suparna Vontair, Yashwanth Nag 

13. Udd Chala

Performed by Sharanya Raghavan, Shriram Iyer

Written by Ruchit Japee, Shriram Iyer

Produced by Animesh Panigrahi

Language: Hindi

Genre: Indie Pop

Shriram Iyer has had a fine year with some good indie releases and this is the second in 2 months that I am featuring. The competition is the biggest merit and I did hear some beautiful notes especially in the Antara section reminding me of Raag Bhimpalasi. The song's lyrics are written by Ruchit Japee and an extremely engaging vocal performance by Sharanya Raghavan hogs the limelight. 

The beautiful guitar notes draw my attention right through and they especially come to light in the interlude. Animesh Panigrahi keeps things simple but quite succulent in arrangements, programming and production and that is why the song ranks quite well on overall sound design. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Rahul. 

@shriram_iyer @that.surili.gal @animesh_wav @mixedbyrahul 

14. Kangi Wava

Composed by Manna Singh 

Singer: Manna Singh 

Lyrics: Traditional 

Language: Punjabi

This is the second track in the famous musical series "Chamak" on Sony Liv, that I am featuring this week. Manna Singh uses famous poetry and creates his version by singing and composing the tune. Jatin Vaswani has done all the arrangements and production, so kudos for the interplay of the Shehnai, and the wonderful rhythms and percussion. Bharat plays the Shehnai and we have Kaydeep as the recording engineer, Sunny Seven on mixing and mastering duties. 

@mannasinghmusic @jatinvaswanimusic @sunny_seven_ @rishabmusic @

15. Oo Oo Mere Dil Mein Tu

ARTIST / SINGER - KAVYA JONES

MUSIC COMPOSED & PRODUCED by LESLEE LEWIS

LYRICS by LESLEE LEWIS

Language: Hindi

Genre: Dance Pop

Travel back in time, to the famous 1990s and early 2000s, and this is the amazing dance-pop that we grew up listening to. The song is composed and produced by the legendary Leslee Lewis and he is creating a ruckus here with Keys and rhythms. The riff on Keyboards is creatively done and makes you want to wear those dancing shoes. The song would never be catchy without an able vocalist who can deliver the song's mood and energy and transfer it to the listener. 

Kavya Jones is immaculate in her delivery and 

her energy is infectious. The backing vocalists join the party. The use of the saxophone is well thought out and it adds a certain glamour to the song. It does feel like that famous number " Jaanam Samjha Karo". 

@kavyajonesofficial @lesleelewisofficial