Top Indian Songs of the week - 24th April 2022

This is the week's best music from across the nation. Music from every state written in every language, composed as a part of Movies and by Indie artists is listened to and after analyzing more than 350 tracks released in the week ending 24th April 2022, I have rated and reviewed the 16 absolute best tracks in the country. This is truly India's ONLY multilingual music review and music curation page. Week after week, without any breaks you will get the review and links to the best work from musicians all over the country.

1. Swimming They are like the pride of women indie musicians in India and their singing and compositions represent the best of talents we have in this country today. If only Indians who think it is pretty cool to listen to a Ellie Goulding and Selena Gomez just took a few minutes of their lives every day to listen to songs like this!!! Kamakshi Khanna and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya are A-listers and they have been obviously featured on my playlists and reviews numerous times, not because they are popular, but they ooze quality. The duo write, compose and perform together with production by Kamakshi. Kamakshi starts off the vocals with her delectable and soft tones and you fall in love with the song, and just then to make matters worse for your vulnerability Sanjeeta broaches on stage with her Opera-like thrust in her voice. Kamakshi herself plays the Piano that you hear along driving the songs sober and lullaby-like undertone, and she also plays the live Ukulele in the track. Listen to her trembling voice as she singing “against the flow� and you hear notes of the song flowing like the water itself. Ajay Jayanthi kills you with his solo violin playing mildly, almost as if he is putting his fiddle up and when Kamakshi sings “can somebody help me up. Ajay also handles the live strings in the song. This is a well-written song about the female bonding and friendship which gets drowned like needle in a haystack among all the love songs. I love the thump in the drums produced by Karun Karunapilly, and something I felt and noticed was how Kamakshi’s voice sounds vulnerable calling for help, and the assertive Sanjeeta comes to the rescue as her friend and all this gets expressed through the vocals. Adil Kurwa was just here on my list last week with the band ‘The Colour Compound� is at his best on the bass guitars and Apur Isaac plays the tender acoustic guitar. Behold the moment when Sanjeeta sings “She knows, the tide is low�, but I felt like I was downing in a high tide of musical goodness. The closing stages are a treat with the vocals, harmonies, strings and drums all in unison. The wonderful mixing for the track is done by Ashyar Balsara. The video is directed by Parizad, with Tithi Rohilla as the AD and Abhinandan Sharma as the DOP, Sonal Garg as HMU. Ashna Katoch does the beautiful choreography with Tanya Suri and Ashna as dancers. Aanchal Rai is the stylist, with Pritiza as the photographer and Akshiena Khanna as the art work specialist.

2. Theher I was so impressed with Gaurav Chatterji for his 2 songs in ‘Ginny weds Sunny’ but unfortunately some of the other songs which were far inferior in quality and pure remixes got more attention. If you haven’t kindly listen to “Phoonk Phoonk� and “Rubaru� from the album. He is now rising with every new composition and “Theher� is the perfect example of his prowess. Shilpa Rao is the perfect vocalist for this endearing yet mysterious number that is rich in emotions and quality. The use of the orchestra and especially components of the strings section really kept me hooked and obsessed and kudos to Gaurav for the score and production. The 3 instruments that stand out are the Violin and Viola played by Jitendra Hansraj Javda, and the Cello played by Leo Olavio Velho. The words and the musical tone and arrangements are apt, as she sings “ Theher, Saas le zindagi�, and the pause is used to fill the void with the flurry of Violin and Viola. The Budapest Art Orchestra deserves applause for this symphonic exhibition with Peter Pejtsik as the conductor, David Lukacs as the Protols engineer, Gabor Buczko as the recording engineer and Miklos Lukacs as the Session Producer. Alok Punjabi does a fabulous job mixing for this track, as it so difficult to get the sounds and amplitudes right amidst all the instruments. Donal Whelan has mastered the track. Jose Das has assisted on the mixing and Sandeep Gaur writes the meaningful lyrics. The outro on guitars and Violin and Viola is stunning and makes you wish it never ended.

3. Njan Aara Avial the Indian alternative rock band can never be forgotten and despite the many changes that have transpired in terms of band members, thankfully their brand of music hasn’t gone through any decay. In the last released album, there are 8 tracks and I found this to be the absolute best. “Who am I� is the existential question that this song is trying to ask and Tony John's captivating vocals draw you into the number. Rex Vijayan, a composer I have really fancied thanks to some of his scores and production capabilities plays the lead guitar and bassist Binny Isaac and accompanies him. In-fact Rex slays rather than plays, and that would be an appropriate description of his prowess. The lead and bass guitars are so stunning that after the initial vocal segments, it feels like an instrumental on a standalone bassis. Mithun Puthanveetil blasts away on drums as Tony reaches for the high scales singing the title lines, and his precision in the emotion and delivery is befitting the lyrics. There is some synth related sounds as well and that too is by Rex. The harmonies towards the end are well arranged and provide a breather from the other wise hard rock content

4. Moonrain I over the last couple of years have really taken a liking to fusion, especially the Indian classical/ Rock fusion and Param the band falls right smack in the center of this genre. They call themselves a Hindustani Progressive Rock Act and Moonrain is a perfect depiction of that. It starts off with a disco-like duel with Shreyas Urs on lead guitars and Sanketh Kumar on bass. Vijay Hegde then begins his very classical Hindustani delivery and it apparently an extraction of Raag Bhoop which is known as Mohanam in Carnatic music. The percussions are a mix of both Indian and western worlds with Mayur GS on drums and Vishal Kalbad on Tabla. Vijay is simply excellent with every aalap he delivers and nothing seems overdone or forced. The interlude progresses in the disco style but the bass guitar solo is invigorating, just after the completion of the lead guitar bit. Vishal does some magic with his fingers on the Tabla at break-neck speed and the last minute feels like one scintillating ride on the roller-coaster with guitars and drums taking us in to the heart of rock genre. I am eagerly awaiting their next as this one truly won my heart and the whole song is like a fantasy like wondering how it would feel and seem to have rain on the moon.

5. Zameen We complain and crib about the life in a concrete jungle, but its all haphazard like an incoherent though. Listen to sing splendid number that combines the lyrical mastery of Psya and singing and composition of Dhi Harmony. The guitars are splendid and they are not just sidekicks, but equal heroes for the output of this track. Pratyay Mishra handles the guitar arrangements and Anand Masrani can be heard sizzling away on the bass guitars. Shanaia Puskar Shrotri and Prarthana Wagh hit a nice emotional nerve on the harmonies and we get some good accompaniment on the drums thanks to Baajewala’s recording and Aditya Ranga’s Rhythm arrangements. After the 2.30-minute mark we get a full blast rock genre energy and this shift is delightful and inspirational. Dhi is trained in folk and Indian classical music and that shows in his vocal delivery and understanding of music is reflected in the arrangements. Hersh Desai does the mix and master with Sarthak Ray as the recording engineer. And when all the storm perishes, the guitars followed by Dhi a.k.a. Tanmoy’s vocals is pure gold.

6. 'Naina' It Is some inspiring and tantalizing music and an even better story of a Gaurav Rudra who was determine to write, sing and record this despite some great hindrances to his physical being. I heard it from the horse’s mouth and I got a sense of the man's passion. Just listen to this song and that will do enough to please your heart as Gaurav writes and performs and Pallav Jyoti Mahanta plays the guitars and Keys. You might hear fragments of “Iktara� by Amit Trivedi at least I heard some notes where the scale resembled and I presume there could be an influence of Raag Khamaj. The guitars are like the driving force behind the song whether acoustic in the foreground or electric guitars in the background. “Tu Roothe aa� and the notes here and that follow also remind me of RD Barman’s “Ek ladki ko dekha�. Amazer Sanger plays the bass guitars and Abhay Dohar is on the drums. The track is mixed by Arpan Jain, with Abhay, and Kartik Ganotra mastering. We can also hear maybe a Ukulele or pluck in the background to soften the emotions up but the moment that truly stuns you is the electric guitar solo in the interlude past the 2nd minute. It is in the stanza that Gaurav explores and exhibits a lot of his vocal range. Vadik Sehra does the lyrical video and Abhay Kalia handles the artwork.

7. 'O Manuja' He has been away for a bit and I really did miss Prashant Pillai’s scores, and finally he is back and that too for a movie that looks exciting just form the title and poster featuring Soubin Shahir. Prashant arranges and has programmed for the track as well. The clear front runner for claps and ovation is Sithara Krishnakumar the vocalist as she sings it in a fashion and tone you wouldn’t have heard or expected from her. I hear a strong sense of Raag Abheri but the background instrumentals are mind-blowing thanks to Prashant and the additional programmers in Sreerag Saji and Rakesh. The way she sings at the low vocal scales is astounding and creates mystery and a sense of a scare, and maybe that is intended. The electric guitar riff is good as it keeps coming about and the track is supremely mixed and mastered by Vivek Thomas, with Rahul Narayan as the recording engineer. Santhosh Varma is the lyricist.

8. Saamna I don't know if I have this before in my reviews, but Vayu is one of the best composers/producers around and just like he is named he breathes air and life into a song. Here he is writing, composing and producing, with Stav Beger co-composing for the track. AKASA who has worked with Vayu before once again performs with gusto and rock-solid delivery here. The song apparently deals with the trauma of separation from a loved one and meeting the person again. The rhythm programming is top-notch and the entire tone of the song is one that oozes of superior production values. What follows here around the 1.20-minute mark is truly stunning. It sounds like a stringed instrument but this programed sound with rhythms in the background is captivating and lets you lose control, and all you want to do is groove and dance. Stav does the programming for the track. You can hear some excellent flute sounds also intervening in the stanza. As a music lover, all I want is a brief episode of magic in every song and Vayu does that for me along with Stav here. Strangely enough, I felt that the tune had a mild influence on Raag Bhimpalasi and Vayu believes it could just have been unintended.

9. Chirakaarnnu Palavazhaiye How do they just keep producing melodies aty this incredible frequency, I am talking about the Mollywood music industry collectively. This one is composed by Rahul SUbramanianan and sung with that coarse husky tone by Narayani Gopan. The two instrumentalists who immensely impress in the opening stages are bassist Anuraag Rajeev Nayan who is killing it in the background and he also plays the guitars for this one. The other one is a composer I like Sachin Balu who plays the Veena, and wait for the interlude bit, to his proficiency. Arun Alat writes the lyrics and Rahul’s arrangements and programming keep the tone fresh with a tinge of pathos that is also apparent in the vocals. Harishankar V has mixed and mastered the track.

10. Sukoon Last week I mentioned Kashmira Khot the young singer-songwriter who has 3 on 3 of her singles reviewed and featured by me and just like that we have here Neyhal who is a star for the future and just like his 2 earlier singles that both got featured, Sukoon is here to bring a smile to your face. It starts off with some wind instrument magic as Harmish Joshi plays that Clarinet. Neyhal’s vocals are just tranquillity and love encapsulated, and as he sings these beautiful lines that we all can relate to, Meera Desai joins in on the backing vocals adding some beautiful layers. Neyhal writes, sings, composes and plays the guitars, but one cannot quantify the immense contribution of Raag Sethi as he produces, arranges, and also plays the bass guitars. The home of some of India's best music a.k.a. Compass Box Studios is where the magic transpired and got recorded. A brief bridge is introduced where all the drums by Shivang Kapadia come to a halt and only Neyhals voice and guitars guide us through. It is symbolic of the volatile emotions that run through our veins and hearts as we glance at someone we like. This part reminded me very nostalgically of “Papa Kehthe hainâ€?. Kudos to Protyay Chakraborty who does the irreplaceable work of mixing and mastering so many elements and instruments. Neyhal does so well when he alters the notes just a tad to sing Lage sachh tu the second time around. The song simply signs off in memorable and stylish fashion thanks to the clarinet again just like the start. 

11. Phase The title of the song is apparently the English words phase, which refers to a period in time, during a feeling of longing for happiness, success or love. I thought the title however was the Hindi word meaning “getting caught� and since the lyrics come in both English and Hindi and I assumed I was right, because with every second that passed, I was ‘getting caught’ in the song’s web of melody. Sarthak Saksena has written, composed and performed, and his vocals are soft and tender and could just rock you off into sleep. Shahzan Mujeeb has worked on the programming, arrangements as well as mixing and mastering. He does bring some mastery as the Hindi lyrics begin and the percussions take over brilliantly. That is not all, there is a brilliant interlude with a Sitar Solo and it give me vibes of Raag Yamuna Kalyani. The way the song transforms at the end of this interlude like a western Pop is truly scintillating and this where the composer great skill and versatility. Mustafa RK has his contribution in backing vocals and harmonies and he doesn’t miss the target either. The percussion element is the Cajon Box probably along with programmed drums.

12. Zindagi The song is by Goyell Saab Collective and it talks about the pandemic and its lasting impact on humanity. The song has a stylish and cool coloring that mainly oozes from the vocalist’s delivery and attitude. Goyell Saab is the singer and he also has written, and produced this track. The rock styled texture is brought about thanks to Karn Kapoor on drums and Srived Datta on electric guitars. Kunal Kambli is the bassist and he delivers all the oomph non-stop and you can imagine the efficacy of this whole set up when Goyell sings “ koi jeeth na sake� so casually. The humming too comes off quite well as an extension of the track’s main vibe.

13. Icarus Rushaki Ghosh has written, composed and performed this synth laden and Piano heavy piece and ever since I opened myself up to all styles of music I have appreciated Lo-fi and modern sounds of the electro variety and this song is exemplary in that regard. There are a zillion sounds here and I can only have words of appreciation for Rushaki and Bharg Kale who have produced the track together. They fly high definitely like Icarus towards the sun, but unlike the mythological character, the duo certainly succeeds in reaching higher and higher. The last segment where they sing “That’s what we’ve been told to do, with the Keys, harmonies and all the sounds feels cathartic with a drop of a tear rolling down my cheeks.

14. Entra Adhrushtam Mark K robin produced the best song in India on my list last week with “Reppe Vese Loga� and now he has made it to the list with another out-of-the-box kind of song from the film ‘Mishan Impossible’. He ropes in superstar Haricharan for the male lead vocals and the two do a fabulous job here. It starts off in perfect Reggae or Calypso style with rhythms and bass guitars doing the needful along with the trumpets. Mark composes, arranges and produced the single while also accompanying Haricharan in vocals. Keith Peters is the bassist with David Joseph on drums and Allwyne on percussions. It sounds like a UB 40 song and a good one at that. Mark also plays the Keys and we can hear some excellent interventions on the Harmonica as well. Full marks to creativity! The track is mixed and mastered by Toby and lyrics are penned by Sanapati Bharadwaj. Some of the vocal arrangements and improvised singing is just quite catchy towards the end.

15. Jalwanuma Is it ok to blow my own trumpet? Well fine let me go ahead and still do it. I am quite elated and cautiously proud that Pooja Tiwari, who I rate highly as a singer/ composer, has sung for AR Rahman as the female lead vocalist, but she has featured in my list and my reviews multiple times since 2020 and in fact just last week I reviewed her single amongst the top 5 Indian songs called “Rang Daroongi�. Ok now let me come back to earth, and state this is a fantastic number by the genius, and it has been long overdue. Pooja Tiwari sounds fabulous as she sings it with a mix of tease, sadness and confidence and she sounds nothing like if you hear her talk. I wish Pooja all success from here on in and hope she capitalizes on her big break. The song reminds us and shows fragments of his early works and this has a strong influence on Raag Charukeshi. There is another point I will like to notify here, Sarthak Kalyani who too has been a regular on my lists and reviews does the additional vocals along with Swagat Rathod and the boys easily match up to what is expected of them. Pooja Tiwari blows away in what has to be a golden debut and she has the seasoned Javed Ali on male vocals. The percussion and rhythms are a major component in the success of the song and we have a huge ensemble, comprising Keyur Barve, Satyajit Jamsandekar and Omkar Salunkhe. Satyajot plays the gentle Tabla and heavy Dholak as well, with Ratnadeep Jamsandekar also on Dholak. OMkar and Parag Chhabra conduct the rhythms section and hence a huge round of appreciation to them. I am surprised I am able to write so much considering I have been swooned away by Pooja's high-pitched delivery of the title line. Tapas Roy plays the Bazuki and Mandolin which come to the fore during the interlude but Omkar Dhumal steals the show right towards the end with his Shehnai solo. Be wowed by Pooja's display of vocal range and how she is in the lower scale in the stanza. Chris Jason plays the electric guitar and the technical team is pretty strong as well with Hiral Viradia as the music supervisor, TR Krishna Chetan on mixing along with Pradvay Sivashankar and Pradvay the mastering. The mastering for Apple Digital is done by Riyasdeen Riyan, and the sound engineers are Suresh Permal, Karthik Sekaran, and Aravind Crescendo. Mehboob and Jyoti Nair are the lyricists

16. Try Again SURII is an Indian music composer/producer and he first caught my attention when he featured the singer Sid Sriram called “You’re not alone�. That totally floored me thanks to some excellent creative vocals by Sid, and to make matters more tempting for the listener it had Shilpa Rao as the female vocalist. This one has endearing and thumping sounds and SURII a.k.a. Surya Giri has written, produced arranged and performed this number. Musicians from Chennai Ashwin Vinayagamoorthy and Sivanesh Natarajan who have been featured multiple times on my website and lists come in with their strong points of mixing this track while Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios masters the track. The Chennai duo of Ashwin and Sivanesh are also the recording engineers. SURII’s vocals are mesmerizing, as he goes into falsetto and executes it brilliantly and I am always reminded of Chris Isaak, the American musician who sang “Wicked Game�. The rhythms are just what the doctor ordered, and the guitars are spectacular and feel like a booster shot to the ears. This is one of the best electro-pop/ dance numbers I have heard in recent times.