Top Indian Songs of the week 9th Oct 2022

1. Ajab Shaan 

Singer - Junaid Ahmad 

Composers - Junaid Ahmad & Ubaid Ahmad 

Lyrics - Traditional Additional Lyrics - Irfan Ali

Music Production & Arrangements - Ayashimusic 

Language: Urdu

Genre: Sufi-Rock 

It is not too often that we find music playlists and rankings devoid of music in India coming from the Merchant Records label. This song is so good that it beats all competition and rises right to the very top of this week's charts. Somebody I knew recently commented that Sufi Music revival and popularity have taken a beating after the fall of AR Rahman. Well, to them I tell it certainly hasn't and the Salim-Suliman brothers have been the guardians of that genre especially. This is a song dedicated to Imam Husain and his immeasurable sacrifice for love and humanity. Junaid Ahmad and Ubaid Ahmad are the composers of the tunes with traditional lyrics. We have the duo Ayan Joe and Srinath S Kumar a.k.a. Ayashi Music who have done a splendid production. The Rabab starts things off played by Ayan and the magnetic vocals of Junaid. Ejaz Husaain plays the Sarangi in the interludes, but the electric guitars and bass by Ayan create a beautiful western layer around the classical Sufi core. Srinath plays the engaging drums and Junaid other than the vocals also contributes through additional production. The humming, backing vocals, create awe and inspiration, but none like the electric guitar solo closer to the end which is truly mesmerising. The track is mixed and mastered by Hanish Taneja with Vatsal Chevli as mix assistant. 

2. Varaha Roopam Deiva Va Rishtam

Music: B Ajaneesh Loknath

Vocals: Sai Vignesh

Lyrics: Shashiraj Kavoor

Language: Kannada

Genre: Carnatic-Rock fusion

Well, what can you write about this song that the world already doesn't know of yet? I am a huge fan of Ajaneesh Loknath and would easily call him one of the top 5 Indian music composers today and there is enough proof of that if you listen to his works or just read my website where I have featured a multitude of his songs. This was a song that mesmerised me as I saw the movie on the big screen. The movie is creating a Tsunami not just a wave, but a lot of the praise must go to the songs and BGM especially. Sai Vignesh who has been singing in Tamil as well sings this Classical Rock number to perfection. It reminded me of the numbers that 'Agam' the Kerala Rock band used to produce, and Ajaneesh here creates awe, and wonder and you will be petrified every time you hear it. The NAdaaswaram by Bala at the beginning is just a curtain-raiser and even that is astounding to hear. I assumed that there was some definite Ragam Thodi and maybe some Ragam Gaanamurthe too. When I later talked to Ajaneesh and Sai, I found that there are elements of Thodi, Varali, Mukari and Kanakaangi(apparently quite close to Gaanmurthe). The singing is beyond compare and I just feel pure divinity when Sai sings the swaras in the middle portion of the song. The use of the electric guitar played by the master Durwin D'Souza is the icing on the cake and it is what ultimately elevates the number to a place where you just surrender your senses to great music. Shashiraj Kavoor is the lyricist. The opening Pallavi and Anupallavi lines come along intervened by a segment on the Solo Violin by the genius Embar Kannan and what follows is pure magic. Ajaneesh even mixes that fabulous shout and howl of the Bhoota Kola dance taking us back to that visual beauty.

3. Hymn of Dharma

Music: Nobin Paul 

Singers: KS Harisankar 

Lyricist: Nagarjun Sharma 

Language: Kannada

Genre: Sufi

Kannada Music is shining bright and the works of Rishabh Shetty, Raj Shetty and Rakshit Shetty in the movie space are well known now, but it is the music in their movies that deserves as much attention. I have featured 3 other songs in the amazing album called 'Charlie 777' and I am quite sure this will be one of the best music albums of 2022. Nobin Paul has been featured quite frequently since 2019 when I started reviewing and he employs one of India's most gifted vocalists KS Harishankar to deliver this beauty. Manonmani is one of the finest Sarangi exponents in India today and she lends her skills in the opening here, is it not amazing that the first 3 songs in India are all tilting towards classical Indian styles? This too is a beautiful Sufi melody with harmonies by Sanjith Salam, Pancham Jeeva, Pavan Kumar and Prajwal BG. Sumesh Parameswar produces the impactful sounds of the guitars while Josy Alappuzha plays the woodwinds. Sufi music would be amiss without the perfect percussions and who else but Sruthi Raj can fill that void by getting some amazing Indian percussions on board? The interlude has the Oud if I am not wrong, and the combined effect of guitars and bass teasing and playing with our minds. Harishankar is in fine form and he shows how a terrific voice is important to hold even a good song together. Nobin Paul excels at the arrangements and programming and he would have made some yesteryear Indian geniuses proud of this stuff. I cannot write enough about the role Sumesh's guitars play in the outcome of this number. The track is mixed and mastered by Balu Thankachen. Nagarjun Sharma is the lyricist for this Kannada original version. 

4. Maybe its love

Music, Vocals, and Lyrics by Naari

Produced by Fink 

Language: English

Genre: Indie Pop, Soul

Just as I write about this wonderful song by Nereaja a.k.a. Naari, she has released a full-length album called "Naari" and I cannot wait to finish this article and listen to the other 7 tracks. Some excitement is created right at the beginning with the guitars getting strummed slowly but with elegance. Naari takes over and she sings like a muse and all you can focus on is her shining voice that stands apart. The guitars, Keys and rhythms exist without tampering with the soul of the song which is Naari's delivery. Fink produces this number and he surely must be given credit for these apt arrangements. The introduction of harmonies just gives one more layer of depth to like and experience. The line "My nails were sharp" followed by sharper harmonies singing " sharper than you'' ever see", kudos to the creativity here. The video production is by House of Strength and all the DOP duties are done effortlessly by Paolo Zambaldi. The Piano is played just to lift your spirits and keep you afloat, and none of the brilliance ever comes to a halt. Naari does a fine and subtle vibrato and you will get stunned by the introduction of the Sitar out of nowhere. Just these Sitar notes make me wonder if I heard a bit of Raag Bageshri. This Delhi-based musician has piqued my interest. 

5. Baalama

Arranged, Composed, Produced and Mixed by Ashwin Shriyan 

Vocals and Audio Mastered by Aseem Dhaneshwar 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Indie Pop

Discovering new music is something that tantalises me, and when I find beauty, it makes all the effort worth it. But you know what is even more satisfying? When a musician reaches out to me asking If I could listen to and review his music, and when I do, it stuns me beyond words. Now, this is how the story of "Baalama" transpired thanks to Ashwin Shriyan reaching out to me. He composed, produced and arranged for this number and used Aseem Dhaneshwar for the vocals. This guy is a fantastic musician as well and of late his singles have impressed me and they are in the pipeline for my weekly reviews (Tu Main & Dekhoon Jidhar Bhi). A cluster of brilliant musicians getting together can never get the output into something mediocre and this is proof of that. The lyrics are by one of my favourite musicians of 2022, Anurag Mishra and Prasanna Suresh who have been running hot in the indie charts in Hindi and Tamil does all the additional programming. The way Aseem sings " Baalama Ooo oo Balaama" I was sold and I did find a hint of Raag Bageshree. Daniel Kenneth Rego plays the guitars and Rahul Hariharan is on the drums, the way these two combine is a pleasant joyful ride for the listener. I love the layers of bass guitars and harmonies which add mild but essential layers to the song. Ashwin brings in a nice bridge section to add variation to the tune. For all its wonderful tone and texture the song reminds me of Shaan's old hit "Tanha Dil". Sancheeta Joshi handles all the album artwork with Zariya directing the video art. 

6. Maazi

7. Manase Manasina

Singer: Varijashree Venugopal 

Music Director: Praveen - Pradeep  

Lyrics: Santa Shishunala Shariff Saheb 

The song suddenly came out from the thick of the crowd like a bolt out of a clear sky, as I have never reviewed or heard any of the works of composers Praveen-Pradeep. This was a huge surprise as it had another brilliant vocalist who shifts gears between various kinds of musical projects around India viz. Varijashree Venugopal. She is at equal ease singing something very classical and traditional like this and something on the other end of the spectrum as well. This has traces and influences from Ragam Charukeshi. The programming by Varun Pradeep is a very pop-styled layering thanks to keyboard programming and synths. However, the interludes give all the classical Carnatic flavours. Manjunath Naidu does the mixing and mastering and the enchanting words are penned by Santa Shishunala Shariff Saheb. Varun handles the wonderful orchestration and arrangements of live instruments as well. 

8. Naanaadada Maathellava

Music: Arjun Janya

Singer: Sonu Nigam

Lyrics: Jayant Kaikini

Language: Kannada

Genre: Melody

He is Sandalwood industry's very own and I can only feel happy and thankful that at least some space in the music field recognises the might of this vocalist Sonu Nigam. The vocals of Sonu are something that will melt any heart and to this day he delivers every number with flawless precision and peak emotions. I am not sure if he has learnt Kannada, but if not I think his diction is top-notch, something even a Shreya Ghoshal will be envious of. The guitars, bass and wise choice of rhythms make this a solid romantic number and Sonu's expressionist vocals only glorify it even further. The stanza is just pure bliss as Arjun ramps up the melody quotient with bass guitar and Harmonica as instrumental aides. Jayant Kaikini is the lyricist. The killer second interlude is a breakaway from the song's overall tone, as we have a fast-paced Violin solo. Sonu Nigam becomes brilliantly innovative towards the end, with his delivery and does ghamakas and alterations like you would never predict 

9. Koi Bol Ram

Composed by Sonny Singh 

Lyrics: Guru Arjan Sahib(5th Guru of Sikhs)

Produced by Wil-Dog Abers

Language: Punjabi

Genre: Western/ Folk Fusion

I did mention how amazed I was by Sonny Singh's Chardi Kala as an album and here is one more track that truly deserves attention. Wil-Dog Abers plays the bass guitars and produces the tracks. The Horns section once again is splendid and just is an example of how great [roduction and instrumental arrangement is crucial to the ultimate listening experience. Sonny plays the trumpet, Warren Huang plays the Tenor Sax and Neelamjit Dillon on the Alto Sax. I loved the message in the song about polytheism and that we call Gods by different names, that is it. Ganavya on backing vocals and pay attention to the mild sounds of the Harmonium adding authenticity to the Indian-ness. Mario Calire plays the drums, Keyboards by Carey Frank, Jonathan Goldberger on guitars, Dominic Johnson on Violin and Jake Leckie on the Upright bass. The track is mixed by Patric Avalon and mastered by Justin Weis. 

10. Bismillah

Music: Indraadip Das Gupta

Lyrics: Srijato

Singer: Arijit Singh

Language: Bangla

Genre: Melody

It is this title track from the recent Bangla movie "Bismillah" and in keeping with the title, the music is divine. Indraadip Das Gupta composed and arranged this song with programming by Shamik Chakravarty. Ashwin Srinivasan's tantalising flute solo set in Raag Charukeshi, atleast that is what I believed, and we get Tapas Roy sizzling on the Strokes.  When I later spoke to the musicians involved in the song, I came to know that it is a very close Raga called Parameswari. Together we are deep into a zone of trance, and then we hear Arijit Singh's vocals which to me are way better here than in most of the recent Bollywood songs. Ardent music fans will be able to spot the connection with another famous song "Teri Umeed Tera intezaar" by Nadeem-Shravan, especially when the opening lines conclude. Arijit is in prime form in the higher scales. Srijato is the lyricist, and Shom Chatterjee does the musical assistance. In the interlude, you can hear the mild Sarod played by Pratik Shrivastava and then the thundering rhythms follow. Subhadeep Mitra does the mixing and mastering, with Amey Londhe, Bhaskar Sharma, Shiladitya Sarkar, Sukanto Singha as recording engineers. The strings are nicely programmed in the background and we have a very typical aalap by Arijit towards the end. 

11. Captivate me

Written by Kit Shangpliang

Arranged and Performed by Summersalt 

Language: English

Genre: Alt-Rock

Welcome to NE India, where we have India's finest musical acts and artists. Here is a folk fusion band that calls itself "Summersalt", and you will be more than ready to do a few somersaults just to hear them perform. The band consists of singer-guitarist Kit Shangpliang who has also penned the lyrics here. The band has Keyboardist Adorbha Shangpliang, guitarist Gregory Ford Nongrum(who has produced music on his own), vocalist Dawadhok Shangpliang, and bassist Baiaineh Shangpliang. The engineer in charge is Shantanu Hudlikar who has recorded, mixed and co-produced, and we also have Abhishek Khandelwal and Manasi Tare on the project. You just need 5 seconds and the vocals will floor you. The lead, bass guitars and drums create a concoction and right there you start tasting good music. It is not just waterfalls, butterflies and honeybees, but great music like this that can captivate you. One could have just expected the guitarists to take over and go solo, and we got what we prayed for, with a mild yet engaging bridge segment. Ashish Saha does the cover art. The outro is foot-tapping good and so keep playing it till the end. 

12. Kabil 

Singer: Gurnam Bhullar 

Feature: Isha Sharma

Lyrics/Composer: Rony Ajnali, Gill Machhrai 

Music: Chet Singh

Language: Punjabi

Genre: Melody

Is it me who has realised quite late, or has suddenly an influx of good Punjabi music just picked up? I have been listening to all songs from across India over the last 3 years or more, and I must admit production quality improving with a focus on quality over popularity. Gurnam Bhullar is the singer and he has a very typical voice that sounds authoritative and you just cannot ignore it. Rony Ajnali and Gill Macchrai write and compose the melody which isn't something we haven't heard before. It is a rotted folk melody that you always connect with the land of Punjab. The producer is Chet Singh and you must listen to the conjoined forces of the flute, Violin and Keys in the stanza which elevate the song a few notches. The Violin solo accompanied by Strings in the background does even better in the second interlude and this is what music lovers will look for, a few moments of inspiration and creativity. 

13. Rooh 

Written, Composed, Arranged and Performed by: Moongphali

Vocals: Soham Mallick

Language: Hindi

Genre: Rock

Soham Mallick has been a musician I have been writing about and featuring in the weekly charts of India's best music, but I was never aware that he was part of a band, much less that I expected them to release something in 2022. Here we have the band 'Moongphali' and wow I was tempted because I am addicted to the nut. The frontman uses his vocals here to push forward a beautiful rock number that lasts more than 6 minutes. Joel Lepcha plays the guitars and Dhruv Sarker plays the drums ever so mildly. Soham sings and treads along a falsetto which sounds beautiful and not forced and he is also aided by some backup vocals. The bass guitars by Aradhya Khurana are constant, but it is the electric guitars that glorify the song with some improvised solo interventions. Just at the halfway-mark, we hear a solo piece that showcases Joel's potential thanks to the free-flowing nature of the segment. Yawan Lepcha does the mixing and Debangshu Roy does the mastering. I love this rock number as it feels complete with all the essential elements that tick for a number in this genre, and I hope to hear so much more from the band. This song has some deep inner meaning about a man's conversation with his soul, and it certainly comes out with a lyrical description. 

14. Tu Chahe

Written, Composed & Performed: SidB 

Lyrics: SidB Music 

Producer: Zafar Ansari

Language: Hindi

Genre: Indie pop

I did feature SidB in a song called "Bayaan" a few months ago and this too impresses me straightaway as a song that sounds good and has some well-composed and even better-produced bits. SidB has written, composed and sung while Zafar Ansari has produced it. Zafar is a well-known name in the world of indie music and the song has his touch and work style written all over it thanks to some excellent keyboard and rhythm programming. SidB and Zafar also perform the backup vocals and the track is mixed and mastered by Zafar himself. Once the initial portion of vocals comes to an end, listen to the guitars, and violins in the background, the finger-flipping and Keys all come together and this is why the song will just make you close your eyes and enjoy every note, and arrangement. The strings section comes in and intervenes and these are all elements that you would never have expected in a simple pop number. 

15. Kahani

Vocals / Drums: Anurag Singh 

Lyrics / Composer/ Guitars: Arijit shaw 

Language: Hindi

Genre: Alt-Rock

The two-piece band called Paper Parachute comprises Anurag Singh who is the vocalist and drummer, and Arijit Shaw is the writer, composer and guitarist. The song talks about us choosing to be what we desire than living the life of an imposter. The guitar strumming is fabulous and almost nothing goes wrong as the song proceeds. What is not to love about this? The vocals are energetic, and the drums and guitars generate enough spirit. The song could have been a little longer with more segments written but I am not going to complain about what is already presented. The electric guitar is probably the hero of the number. The mixing and mastering are by Zypher, and the artwork by Arijit. The music video is shot by Dhruv Agrawal and the music label is UCM. 

16. Hope

Written, Composed and Sung by Rukhsar Bandhukia 

Music Produced by Mann Taneja. 

Language: English

Genre: Dance-pop

She is quite a celebrity who creates music at an incredible frequency and she is one of those gifted artists who can write, compose, perform and appear in front of the camera without an iota of inhibition. Rukhsar Bandhukia was featured a month ago for some very interesting modern lyrics written for an old Hindi Classic. It is only relevant that Mann Taneja employs modern sounds with a dance-pop and EDM influence through his production. Jakiruddin Khan plays the acoustic guitars and Ronak Damani assists Mann with all additional programming. Rukhsar's vocals provide hope thanks to her engaging and controlled delivery in this song about coming past obstacles with a ray of hope. I love the pause just past the 1-minute mark and her lyrics go "Once I stop with the grieving, I start in believing" conveys the message of the song precisely. Mann Taneja also directs the video, with Parth Dave as DOP and Manan Panchal working on editing. Rukhsar explores herself vocally when she sings" Set me free" with a nice little vibrato.