Top Indian Songs of the week 4th January 2026

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Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 4th January 2026

1. Neelothi

Singers: Sooraj Santhosh, Chinmayi Sripada

Lyrics: Sarathi

Composed And Arranged By Justin Prabhakaran

Language: Tamil

Genre: Light Music

Mood: Romantic

When a movie like ‘Sirai’ gets excellent reviews, especially when it is from a regional language  like Tamil, there is an expectation that the music album too will be good. Of late, a lot of Masala-rich Tamil movies have disappointed with mediocre and loud music, but some good news is Just In, and the composer for the album is Justin Prabhakaran. Just about a couple of weeks ago, I featured a fantastic single from the album called ‘Mannichiru’, and now we have a song that, for me, scores even better. The moment Sooraj Santhosh starts singing, I am drawn, mortified by the brilliance. P Vijay Anant plays the flute solo to leave an indelible mark, and the melody probably has shades of Raag Keeravani. 

The similarity of tones between Sooraj and Pradeep Kumar is uncanny, both being super playback singers. As I hear the song’s charanam, with the Fretless bass guitar in the background by Keith Peters, I felt like I was listening to a Maestro Ilaiyaraja melody. Can there be a bigger compliment to a musician? Once Sooraj finishes his line, we get drowned in the pathos by Chinmayi’s stunning voice, and that masterstroke is the introduction of the Tabla by Shruthiraj. This mesmerising number, which could easily end up being one of the best Indian songs of 2026, is composed and arranged by Justin, with Sebastian Sathish handling all the additional programming. The Tabla and Flute in the interlude remind me of Santhosh Narayayan’s ‘Manam ENgum Maya Oonjal’, another solid melody that will stand the test of time. The string section can be heard mildly as we have the Budapest Scoring Orchestra playing. 

The heart feels full, and cheered when I hear Sooraj singing “ Ennam pol vazhkai, mabikkai poi vaa” with the astounding TICE (The Indian Choral Ensemble) performing the harmonies. Don't blame me if I have a tear or two in my eyes; the blame is squarely on Sooraj, Chinmayi, Justin and lyricist Sarathi, but I console myself as he sings “ Naan Varuven Naan Varuven athuvara ninappula kalangaathey”. The amazing choral singers are Kalyani Nair, Aparna Harikumar, Sushmita Narasimhan, Nayansee Sharma, Shibi Srinivasan, Shivsundar R, Neeraj M Selva and Cyril Simon, with Kalyani Nair and Karthik Manickavasakam at the helm. Kalyani is also the brains behind all the profound choir and string arrangements. Abinandan R David is playing the acoustic and electric guitars with a delectable touch.

I love the way Sooraj and Chinmayi sing in unison, and the lines make me feel so inspired and hopeful for a great year ahead. “Ellarayum pola, Nallarippom Nala, Neethi Tharum Sethi Varum, Namakkundu Azhagiya ethirkalam”. The tracks are mixed by Balu Thankachan, assisted by Paul Daniel and Sreenivasa Sharma, with Shadab Rayeen on mastering duty. The recording engineers are Vishnu Raj M R (2Barq), Senthil Prasad (Vanaj Kesav Digi Audio Waves), Arjun B Nair (Sonic Island Studio, Kochi) and Aswin George John (Sounds Right). 

@prabhakaranjustin @soorajsanthosh @chinmayisripaada @anishma_anilkumar__ @keithpeters_bassman @theindianchoralensemble @abinandan_r @thebaluthankachan @sushmita_narasimhan @kalyaninair86 @karthikmanickavasakam @aparnaharikumarh @nayansee__sharma @shibisrinivasan @shivsundar2001 @cyril_simon_ @neeraj_msg

2. Theher Ja

Composition: Garvit - Priyansh 

Lyrics: Aniket Shukla, Priyansh Srivastava 

Vocals - Garvit Soni, Priyansh Srivastava 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music/ Pop

Mood: Calming

Garvit-Priyansh make your heart skip a beat, more than one too, when they come along, write and perform this semi-classical styled pop. The melody begins, and it immediately reminds me of the stunning evergreen “Kabhi Na Jaao Chodkar,” and maybe that is why this Yaman-based melody also has a similar message: “Chodke Jaane Ki Baatein Kiya Na Karo.” Lucky Sharma teases with the rhythm guitar, and the singing is lighting sparks with these harkatein by both Garvit Soni and Priyansh Srivastava. The melody just becomes incredibly mellifluous as it takes a turn for “khamoshiyon mein bhi alfaaz tu chun lena”. By the time we come to the song’s chorus segment, the heart blossoms, and how can we move away from this enriching experience when we hear “ Yen aankhen meri kehti hain ki tu theher ja, adhoora sa yeh ghar lagega tere bina”. 

This is where the melody starts showing colours of Raag Bihag or Bilawal, maybe. The lyrics are written so charmingly by Aniket Shukla and Priyansh, with Garvit taking over music production duties. The interlude plays the chorus again on the Piano ever so gently. A fact that can never be debated against is that the core of a song is its melody, and that is why Garvit-Priyansh stay on top. They value a good melody and showcase that with their extended composition, proof of that being heard in the song’s antara like “ kehne ko kitna bacha, kaise karoon main bayaan”. The tracks are mixed by Garvit with mastering by Lucky and Garvit. 

@garvitxpriyansh @startistmanagement @luckyrsharma @tseries.official @garvitsoni_

3. Badli Lakeerein

Singer: Himani Kapoor

Composer: Anmol Daniel

Lyrics: Noor

Music production: Anmol Daniel

Language: Hindi

Genre: Semi-classical Pop

Mood: Calming

Anmol Daniel and Himani Kapoor have been names that you never want to ignore; if you do, that is at your own peril as a music lover. This song immediately impressed me because it feels like a wholesome package of a delightful melody, with some inspiring vocals. The melody already shows a few nice surprises, and I felt that when I was listening to this tune probably set in Bilawal Thaat. Himani sounds so pure in her delivery, “ badli lakeerien haat ki, jabse tune hai thaam liya”. The acoustic guitar is not just playing the role of a rhythm guitar, but much more. The lyrics are written by Noor as Anmol composes and produces the song. 

The introduction of the Tabl, as it flows like a string of invaluable pearls, is when I felt bliss, just as Himani sings “ Ya tu kismat ka likha”. I love the guitar Tabal combination in the interlude, as the melody on the guitar feels breezy. Himani never goes overboard, but she picks the right phrases and notes to showcase all those juicy harkatein. Pick this song for the twilight session of high tea and tranquillity, and be swooned over her amazing vibrato and improvisation as she delivers the phrase |kismat likha” one more time towards the end. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Partho Protim Das at Euphony Studio. 

@novicerecordsofficial @anmoldaniel_ @noorlyricist @kapoorhimani @virginmusicin @amitkridey 

4. Sajda

Singer: Vishal Mishra, Asees Kaur

Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya 

Music: White Noise Collectives 

Programmed & Arranged: Hrishikesh Gangan

Language: Hindi

Genre: Light Music/Pop

Mood: Romantic

This is the first album I heard in 2026, and it was definitely a good album that deserved a 3/5 rating for me. This was the best of the album, as White Noise Collectives composed the music, with Hirshikesh Gangan working on programming and arrangements. Amitabh Bhattacharya writes the lyrics for this romantic pop single. Vishal Mishra and Asees Kaur are the lead vocalists, and they shine and elevate the track. I loved the intro straight away, featuring violins played by Jitendra Jawda, as he also plays the stirring violas. It is very rare that you hear intro pieces and interludes in Bollywood these days, yet this song inspires with a thumping drum piece and never stops to amaze. 

The rock flavour emanates from the electric guitar and drums. Indrajit Chetia is the guitarist. When Vishal sings in a higher pitch, you can feel the pulsating emotions, and that is why Vishal is a cut above the rest. Asees Kaur joins in the chorus segment singing “ Sajda Karoon Hum Dum, Tu Mera Toh Phir Kya Ghum,” and she sizzles with her mild vibrato. Now, where I would have loved to see something different is the interlude on The Violins and The Live Trumpet by Robin Fargose, had the melody been different from the song’s Sthayi segment. This is what Bollywood music must work on, because anywhere else, from any region of India, especially the south, these instrumental melodies are always written differently. 

The writing is thought-provoking by Amitabh with lines like “aana hi hai yeh mod kahana ka, milna likha hai, aaga se paani ka”. The music production head is Romil Ved. The recording engineers are Swar Mehta & Susmeet Rewaskar, with mixing and mastering by Eric Pillai. Michael Edwin Pillai is the assistant mixing engineer. 

@vishalmishraofficial @whitenoisecolletcive @soulfulsachin @jigarsaraiya @hrishikesh_gangan @jitendrajawda @aseeskaurmusic @trumpetrobin @

5. Kore Kaagaz

Vocals - Nirali Kartik  

Music and Lyrics - Kartik Shah   

Language: Hindi

Genre: Pop

Mood: Peppy

Maati Baani is one ravishing duo, and their brand of music is a class apart, giving many music lovers something they treasure. NiIrali Karthik is the vocalist, and the music and lyrics are written by Karthik Shah. Can you feel the rejuvenating Sitar  by Hardik Verma playing the notes with such ridiculous charm, almost like telling a poem of love? We hear the guitar besides all this, as 2 stringed instrument from different parts of the world uniting in a fusion like only Matai Baani can. That is precisely what happens when Nirali sings “kore kaagaz”, with our hearts starting off on a clean slate but ending with criss-crossed feelings of desire and bliss, filling it to the brim. 

There is a childlike innocence in her voice, accompanied by Karthik and Jeronimo on acoustic guitars and Roberto Pace on bass. The rhythms up the ante and give flavours of some playful pop.  The melody catches your attention, and maybe there is some strain of Raag Hamsadhwani, giving those cheerful bursts. Hardik’s timely intervention on the Sitar is priceless, filling the gaps with grace. That interlude is one highlight where the lead guitar follows the act on the Sitar. Nirali drops some bombs with her delivery of “Dil mein jo toofan hain” is an example of a phrase so difficult to sing. What did Nirali just do with the phrase “Mohe Rang me”, as we get to hear generosity in her harkatein?. Devang Rachh is the mixing/mastering engineer. 

@maati_baani @niralikarthik @kartikkshah @hardikvermaa @devang_rachh 

6. PONNE

Vocals: Charles Nazereth

Composed, Produced and Mixed by Charles Nazereth

Written by Adhri Joe

Language: Malayalam

Genre: R&B/Gospel

Mood: Groovy

The moment Charles started singing, I closed my eyes and travelled to another place and time, when I used to listen to “End of The Road” by Boyz II Men, on loop. I am in the midst of an illusion that I love as he sings “Entho Mayam”, kudoc brother, for what you accomplish with your tone and delivery, giving me the bluesy feeling and touching my soul. The slow tempo, the minimal and slow rhythms and that faint electric guitar are like slow drips of a substance inside me. I have heard and featured Charles before, and if that was an energetic Kerala folk-baul fusion with simmering pop, this slow killer is a tonic when he sings “melle melle kollathenne”, and even a bored and disturbed soul will get aroused. 

The greatest credit will be the way Charles delivers this, making the precise vocal shifts and tonal alterations for a genre that is never performed or practised. The guitar interventions are tangy, making my focus drift away into all the background sound design. Shikku Dan Jacob is in pulverising form with all those guitar riffs and phrases. The lyrics are penned by Adhri Joe. As we head to teh outro, the line “melle melle kllathenne” is accompanied by some seductive strings, and this is like the final nail that puts me to rest. 

@charlesnazereth @shikkudanjacob @adhri_joe @tyronedioxide @delulurecordskochi

7. Irul

Written & Performed by Aswin Dev

Composed and Produced by Aswin Dev

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Orchestral Pop

Mood: Pathos

The guitars strum about, and then the soulful violas create a spectacle that haunts you. Like the title of the song, which means ‘darkness’, the music in the intro and Aswin Dev’s humming does instil a tinge of fear in you. The song is written and performed by Aswin, and he also produced the song with such finesse. The string quartet is probably performing here with the rhythm guitar and the gentle Piano, letting the song sway like a boat in gentle waters. Once we get to the song’s anupallavi section, the harmonies are the highlight, elevating the impact on the listener. 

Aswin Dev’s voice reminds me of two amazing vocalists, Sooraj Santhosh and Pradeep Kumar. The interludes are filled with such intricate counterpoints on the strings and the acoustic guitar. The melody does remind me of ‘Chori Chori’ from the album “Kareeb”. 

8. Mrs Deshpande Title track

Performed by Inga

Composed and Produced by: Tapas Relia

Written by: Elahe Hiptoola

Backing Vocals:  Rishikesh Kamerkar, Rajiv Sundaresan

Language: Hindi

Genre: Alt-Pop

Mood: Energetic

I remember Inga as a performer who took part in the Nexa Music Experience reality singing competition in the 2nd Season, and even then, she was one of the most impressive artists. This is a solid vocal performance by her as this exhilarating Alt-Pop song is reflective of the kind of music we have come to expect from composer/producer Tapas Relia. The keys and synths elevate the stylish effect of the sound, and Inga takes over the responsibility of making this an electrifying and sizzling experience. Elahe Hiptool pens the words, and the guitars are played by Shubhank Chaube. 

When I listen to the keyboard riffs that spark some EDM flavours, I am also reminded of the soundtrack of ‘Stranger Things’. It is a complete knockout performance of Inga as she is on fire with all her vocalisation and creative improvisation. The backing vocalists are Rishikesh Kamerkar and Rajiv Sundaresan. 

@tapasrelia @thisiskaatan @elahehiptoola @shubhankchaube_ @rajiv_3 @rishikeshkamerkarofficial