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Indian Weekly

weekly 13 april 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 13th April 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending    13th April 20251. Kya Tera Kya MeraMusic Composed and Produced by Shivansh JindalSingers: Shivansh Jindal & Aasa SinghLyrics: Shivansh JindalLanguage: HindiGenre: Semi-Classical PopMood: RomanticShivansh Jindal has impressed me since 2020-21 as a young lad making excellent Tumri/semi-classical-styled pop fusion music. When he is taken under the wings of musicians like Salim and Sulaiman you expect nothing less than consistent progress. Here is the best song composed by Shivansh yet, according to me, and it is not the tantalising melody but the elaborate production and the gorgeous vocals that make it worthwhile. The song is from an upcoming album I hear the mild slide guitar as two fantastic singers, Shivansh and Aasa Singh, exchange lines in this beautiful song that embraces same-sex love. Shivansh produces and arranges every sound, and he has gone the keyboard programming way rather than live instrumentals. Either way, the creation is awesome. The Piano and acoustic guitars too come along but the magnificence comes from their vocal tones, emoting love and tenderness. I love the chorus segment and when the Tabla, and bass guitars combine it is pure magic. The two singers compete for dominance in such a healthy fashion with their aalaps and ghamakas. The Sitar interferes in great style during the verse. "Pyaar yeh anokha, Hawa ka yeh jhoka mujko choo jata baar baar", and when the flute sol comes along the words, arrangements and vocals make me tremble as I feel the intensity and purity of love here. Shivansh does a fabulous writing these words and the creative arrangements that get the Sarangi also on board is just a testament to his abilities. The swaras are delivered in the interlude the second time around and this love feels untarnished just like Indian classical music. The strings section in the background during the lines "Kabhi Narmi ho, ya thodi garmi ho, pyaar aise ho rangon se bhara" is just an uplifting element.  As we draw to a close just enjoy Aasa and Shivansh go head to head with their astonishing reproduction of the notes as they even playfully alter "kya tera kya mera" in more than a few ways. Tejus Srivastava is the mixing and mastering engineer at Blue Productions. Are there fragments of Raag Yamunakalyani in the melody? Maybe!@shivansh.j @aasa.sing @tejussrivastava @shreyasamin_ @dev_iadc 2. In The NightComposed, programmed and arranged by: Charanraj MR Lyrics: Dhananjay Ranjan Singer: Kapil Kapilan Language: KannadaGenre: JazzMood: RomanticCharan Raj is once again proving his mettle in 2025 with outstanding tracks, one after another. This is a breathtaking song composed, arranged, and programmed by Charan, with lyrics written by Dhananjay Ranjan. It is not just a song for the night; it is for your day, dawn, and dusk. Nathan's woodwinds make the foray and it feels like we are inside in a theatre listening to a Musical. The way Kapil Kapilan sings with all his heart and exploding lungs is a treat to hear because there are only a few like him who sing with this passion and perfection and who can also sing in multiple langauges with ease. This Jazz-rich song is another proof that Charan can create gems across genres. Godfrey Emmanuel plays the mild guitars and when we get to the second time of the pallavi " In the Night, Ee khali khali road ali" we get to hear the amazing strings section by Cochin Strings, arranged by Narayan Sharma. The fantastic team playing the strings are Carol George, Joby Jose, Bibin and Maria Das, Shallu Varun is on Double Bass. Let us not forget the way Karthik Vamsi gives these enticing percussions like the finger clicks and Cajon that go perfectly well with the Jazz tone. The genius and creativity of Charan come to life in the interlude as he uses the Nadaswaram like a Western brass section instrument. D Balasubramani plays the sexy Nadaswaram bits and the melody written for this is fresh and full of life. The Nadaswaram is accompanied by woodwinds, guitars trumpets and trombones as well. The backing vocalists Devu Mathew, Kavitha Ilango, Charu and Fathima give that choral bliss along with the Nadaswaram notes. The stanza is just flowing with more beauty with lines like "Ranga raashi rangu neenu". My heart attained total joy when we heard a pause by Kapil and then came Shallu's terrific double bass notes, followed by Kapil singing "Ninna smile ey saaku" Venkatesh G Bhat is the music supervisor, and the recording engineers are Vishnuraj MR at 2bq Studios and Jishtu at Pop Media House. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Sujith Sreedhar at Masterhouse 2bq Studios Chennai.@charanraj27185 @kapilkapilanmusic @aanandaaudio @rachana.inder @godfray_immanuel @groovemachine02 @nadasbala @narayan_sharma227 @venkateshmusic_ @sujithsreedhar @vishnuraj.m.r @devumathew @kavitha__ilango @karthikvamsivr

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weekly 6 apr 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 6th April 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending    6th April 20251. Naguvina NesaraComposed, Arranged and Produced by Charan Raj Vocals: Sunidhi Ganesh Lyrics: Pramod Maravanthe Co-composer: Narayan Sharma Language: KannadaGenre: Light MusicMood: RomanticI have been waiting for this, but like they say "when it rains, it pours". Forget what I am about to write in the next few paragraphs, and do yourself a favour. Just go listen to this spellbinding melody from Charan Raj and let it make your day brighter. Sunidhi Ganesh hums, and haunts you, pulling you closer and closer, and you end up like a prey entering her den. I am hearing Sunidhi for the very first time, and listening to her delivery and vocal abilities it feels like a seasoned artist is performing. The mild Piano alone feels like a leaf out of Maestro Ilaiyaraja's playbook. The strings section slowly starts playing thanks to the execution by Cochin Strings and arrangements by Narayan Sharma. This fabulous solo violinist is also the co-composer for this melody. When the line "Odutha Odutha" just is about end, we have the flourishing acoustic guitar notes decorating the background sound for the line "Benda Bhoom Tampagidhe". The line means the parched earth is getting drenched with water, and just then Sunil's acoustic guitars quench our thirst too. The introduction of the clap sounds with the chorus segment is beautiful, kudos to Charan and Narayan for their arrangements, programming and production. The amazing words are penned by Pramod Maravanthe. The humming in the interlude adds to the mild melancholy and we have an array of ethnic strings and plucks played by Dr. P Subhani. The stanza creates awe with the notes and Sunidhi makes the heart flutter in love with her singing and sweetness. I have a wide smile and my eyes remain shut to avoid all earthly disturbances when I hear the line "Mouna Nidhana, Kado Vedhana, Hogi Bandante Aagaaga praana". The Harps and bass guitars by Naveen Napier give a mix of merriment and mystique. Venkatesh Bhat is the music supervisor, and the recording engineers are Aniket Mohanty and Vishnuraj MR at 2 Bar Q Studios and Audiokraft Studios. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Sujith Sreedhar. @charanraj27185 @paavanaofficial @hemanthrao11 @sunidhi_music @pramodmaravanthelyricist @saregama_kannada @narayan_sharma_227 @napier_naveen @mandolinsmsubhani @sujithsreedhar2. Guru Meets Mastan (Ulpporul) Music and Concept: Shahabaz AmanMusic Production: Rex Vijayan  Language: MalayalamGenre: Folk FusionMood: Inspiring/MThis man is one of my favourite musicians in India. The conceptualization and ideation of Shahbaz Aman are beyond compare. It is as good as his divine voice. Here in this album, Shahabaz brings together the poetic works of Sri Narayana Guru and Icha Abdulkhadar Mastan, hence "Guru Meets Mastan". The single is an experience any music lover must never miss out on and 'Ulpporul' is translated as 'Inner Meaning'. We have the splendid Rex Vijayan on music production and all the acoustic guitars, Mandolin and additional programming are done by Sujith Valiyaveettili. The Kozhikodel Chorus is mesmerising with their harmonies in the background and it elevates the song, promoting feelings of brotherhood, harmony and love. The vocalists are Ranjith Jayaraman, Nasil P, Adwaith B Kumar, Arun Ashok, Akhil Dev and Devadut Bijibal. The Mandolin provides a very Middle Eastern influence, in the interlude.I hear some scintillating sounds of the slide guitar, electric guitar and a few more ethnic strings with heavy rhythms all making it the best-produced song of the week, and one of the best from Malayalam in 2025 so far. Is there some influence of Raag Bhimpalasi (Abheri in Carnatic)? I feel that in this beautiful like "Ha Ha Ha endra Kamalam" and what follows. Shahabaz as well as the chorus singers bring such beauty to the lines with their ghamakas. The song is definitely a melody that moves across scales and as we progress there are shades of Raag Pilu (Kapi in Carnatic) and you can sense this in the line "Zaman aakhir thannil varum".Rex shines through all along with his rhythm and keyboard programming along with Sujith, and he doesn't stop there, with some terrific arrangements on harmonies, horns and acoustic, and bass guitars as well. The mind goes into oblivion and peace with the emergence of "Patham kondadu thaniye". @rex_vijayan @shahabazaman5 @sujith_v_v 

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weekly 30 mar 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 30th March 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 30th March 20251. En Vanam Singer: Sean Roldan Lyrics: Uma Devi Music And Arrangement: Sean Roldan Language: TamilGenre: BalladMood: PathosI loved the album "Bottle Radha" composed by the amazing Sean Roldan, as his purple patch of wonderful music continues. The Duduk by Ashish Venkateshwaran makes the intro sound all gloomy and melancholic and this pathos-laden song gets the additional vocal thrust of Sean singing it with all that heaviness in the heart. Uma Devi doesn't mince words as her poetry delivers the message, Ashwin Suresh's nylon and acoustic guitars keep playing right through and Ashwin Raja's keys exist mildly in the background with lines " en vaanam nee, en vaanath thooral nee, en verum nee, en veril eeram nee". The strings section in the background pulls up the protagonist from the depths of sadness with Sean arranging it beautifully. The melody traverses through like a river, gentle and beautiful as we hear "aatrin neerukku ethu sondham bandhame, en yaavum nee". Do I hear some Ragam Shanmukhapriya in the melody here? Maybe!The bass guitars by Aalaap Raju and Ashish's Duduk form the framework in the interlude but the notes written for the guitars that follow are where Sean shines. The stanza is rich and with such strong writing and delivery the flute intervention is maddeningly good, just listen to the line "uyir siluvai sumandhu kondu, nadai pinamai, naana alaya" is teh most striking line of the song. The arrangements keep getting better as Sean offers no respite. Once you have started playing this song, your ears and music sensibilities are in for a treat. "Kaathalin sabangal theernthu poguma , inimelum thodaruma" sings Sean with some delicious vibrato. May God bless this amazing composer and singer, so that the people of Tamil Nadu and all lovers of Tamil music worldwide get to hear more of such magic. Kiran Kashyap is the music assistant, all the tracks are mixed and mastered by Balu Thankachan at 20db Studio (assisted by Paul Daniel), and the recording engineers are Ashwin George John, Manoj Krishna and Hari. Sean's manager is M.P. Vijay at Silver Tree Talent Management. @rseanroldan @manojkrishna001 @mrviolinistt @a.s.h.musique @aswin_george_john @flute_ashish @umadevikuppan @aalaapraju @thebaluthankachan @pauldanieldanny 2. Lekin - The Mirror SongSinger-Songwriter-Composer – Prabhakar RajGuitars, Production, Mixing & Mastering – Kshitij Shrivastava Language: HindiGenre: PopMood: PathosI wish I could let this song be played to many young indie artists and show it like a mirror so that they all understand the purpose and commitment that songwriting entails. I loved this song for many reasons and it begins right from the moment we hear Nayan Joshi's Piano intro. Prabhakar Raj sinks deep into your heart with his singing and the emotional aptness of his delivery. We can also hear the faint violin solo in the background by Nayan and that too adds drops of pathos to the mix.The moment he finishes the line "tume gaye, badli kahaani meri, haan janta hai yeh dil, lautoge tum na kabhi...lekin", there seems to be hope building in the protagonist's heart and that is conveyed not only with the lyrics, but the transformed production and vocal tone. We get the sound of guitars and the rhythms act likes rays of sunshine gleaming with brightness. Kshitij Shrivastava is responsible for the fantastic music production and arrangements and he also plays the guitars here.I love Prabhakar's simple yet succulent writing here, capturing the essence of a man shattered by the departure of his lover. He writes "tum aaye ho iss dafa, lekin bas, Ek yaad thi, mujko satake gayi, phir se rulake gayi". The piano and lead guitars along with the rhythm guitars make way for an even more touching segment after the interlude. Prabhakar forays into the falsetto mode singing "kyun log yun ho jaate ajnabi, jo chahiye jab ta, woh tab kahan milta, shayad ise hi kehte hain woh zindagi". The violin solo and bass guitars are two more exciting elements that end the song perfectly, filled with sadness and making the listener want more. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Kshitij. @tellmeprabhakar @inayanjoshi @musicbykshitij 3. Saraswati

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weekly 23 mar 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 23rd March 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 23rd March 20251. HaiyodiMusic composed, arranged & produced by Dhibu Ninan Thomas Lyrics: Krithika Nelson Singer: Kapil KapilanLanguage: TamilGenre: Alt-RockMood: RomanticWhen I listen to this song by the fabulous composer-singer combination of Dhibu and Kapil, I am reminded of another fantastic song. 'Adiye' was a song that mesmerised the whole nation, and for those who didn't know Kapil Kapilan, it put him on the pan-India radar. This splendid Alt-Rock melody is composed, arranged and produced by Dhibu Ninan Thomas with lyrics by the talented singer-songwriter Krithika Nelson. Was it a conscious decision to use 'Haiyodi' as the catchphrase and title after the success of 'Haiyoda' by Anirudh for the album ' Jawaan'?Either way, this is a much better song in comparison, for me at least and Kapil Kapilan elevates it to another orbital altogether. Keba Jeremiah's guitars and Naveen Napier's bass are piling on the scintillating effect and Dhibu combines the purity of Raag Abheri (Bhimplasi) with the energy of rock music. The male chorus joins in to provide impetus to the line "anbe nee anjamal nenjai killi sellathe", thanks to Dhibu, Aravind Srinivas , Sarath Santhosh , Saisharan , Shenbagaraj and Narayanan Ravishankar. When it is Kapil's turn to join and sing the line, the strings section is a beautiful arrangement in the background, played by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and this section is arranged by the amazing Kalyani Nair. I love the confidence and trust Dhibu has in giving some of the best songs to Kapil, and the way he provides an unabated vocal exhibition in return is a testament to a great team. The swaras are being performed by Kapil at breakneck speed, and it is beautiful to hear the backing vocalists sing "hey hey kadhal" along with this.Sruthiraj is on the Tabla and Ashwin Sivadas plays the drums. I love we have the backing vocalists sing the line "nenjukkule vedikkathe" and then with Kapil following it up "un perai sonnale", but the highlight here is Kalyani Nair's string arrangements that are mesmerising. Kapil shines with some unbelievable stuff he does in the higher vocal register. Listen to the aalaap in the outro and stay dumbstruck. The tracks are mixed by Balu Thankachan (20 dB, Chennai), and mastered by Shadab Rayeen (New Edge Studios, Mumbai). The recording engineers are Maniratnam, Bence Bobak, Vishnu M N and Paul Daniel. @dhibuninanthomas @kapilkapilan @officialanagha @princepicturesindia @madrashe @napier_naveen @kebajer @singer_narayananravishankar @aravindsrinivas_official @shenbagarajg @kalyaninair86 @sivadasashwin2. FariyaadVocals, Lyrics, Composition: Inayat Kaur BajajLanguage: HindiGenre: Alt-RockMood: EnergeticShe is a precocious talent with terrific vocal control and abilities. Inayat Kaur Bajaj has been featured many times by me and she has been on Indian Idol Season 14. Here is a new single where she doesn't restrain and goes all out with her insane vibrato, and why not? Inayat inspires many youngsters who are writing songs, as she writes the melody, and lyrics and performs the vocals on this one. Listen to her go as she sings "Ab toh Main kya karoon" with some falsetto and the landing notes on the last word, almost impossible to achieve. Suyash Gabriel is on drums, Anahita Singh plays the gentle Piano and the guitars are played by Solomon Konwar and McGilheri(Vinod Arora). The song gets into a blistering mode as we get to the chorus segment with the heavy rock genre being explored in drums and guitars and Inayat soars into the pitch notes, emoting all the aggression with style. One just can sit and listen to this splendid vocal performance by Inayat and maybe say to yourself " Main aur kya karoon". Once we get a solo on electric guitars in the interlude, Inayat executes the same notes with stunning perfection, giving a classical touch to the fast-paced aalap. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Mukul Jain at Ferris Wheel Studios. The recording engineers are Solomon, Mukul and Rohan Vashisht, the technical engineer. @inayatkaurbajaj @mixbymukul @ferriswheelstudios @itsanahita.singh @suyashgarbriel @mcgilheri3. Chemical RainLyrics, Vocals by Shivang Arora Music Produced by Shivang AroraLanguage: EnglishGenre: Rock

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weekly 16 mar 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 16th March 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 16th March 20251. PremaloMusic composer: Vijai Bulganin Singers: Anurag Kulkarni & Sameera Bharadwaj Lyrics: Purna Chary Keyboard programmer: Balu Additional strings arrangements: Jishnu Vijay Language: TeluguGenre: Light Music/ Folk PopMood: RomanticThe Telugu movie 'Court' is getting some good reviews, and in the meantime when I realised that the music is by Vijai Bulganin, I got excited and had solid expectations. Vijai meets expectations without a solitary obstacle in this beautiful melody. A blistering start to the song thanks to the one and only Rithu Vyshak who plays the role of the one-man-string-quartet. Rithu arranges the strings with additional string arrangements by Jishnu Vijay. Lali Talluri doesn't wait too long before he enthrals you with that tranquil flute solo.The live rhythms are so engaging and all of this happens within the first 30 seconds that you surrender yourself to the beauty of Vijai Bulganin's composition and production. Balu handles the keyboard programming and Raju, Lakshmi Kanth Pyare Lal and Adithya Babu handle the lovely rhythms. You can sway, but you have to agree when I say "Vijai Bulganin is one of the best out there". The high-pitched lines of Anurag and the lines by Sameera sung in the lower octave are fantastic. The love and romance are so well expressed in the vocal tones. The amazing words are written by Purna Chary.  Shallu Varun is a constant presence giving some stylish flavours with his bass guitars. The elaborate strings section in the background is performed by the Budapest Scoring orchestra, with orchestrators Abishek V and Balasubramanian G. Anurag weaves magic with his vibrato as he sings "Aakasham Thaakaali Ani Undha, Naatho raa chupistha aa saradhaa" and ends the line. Sameera makes you fall in love with her shy and suave delivery, pay attention to how she modifies and sings "Unnaayya Badinche Dhaaralu" The recording engineers are Vyshak PK & Alina Dantis at Contrabass Studios, Chennai. Robin Sebastian is the vocal engineer and the tracks are mixed and mastered by Roshan Sebastian. @vijai_bulganin @preyadarshe @poet_purna @nameisnani @sameerabharadwaj @anuragkulkarni7 @jishnuvijayanmusical @lalittalluri @shalluvarun02 @rithuvysakh @robinsebastianmusic @roshansebastian @contrabass_music_studios 2. SilsilaComposed and Produced By Shor Police (Clinton Cerejo & Bianca Gomes) Singers: Arijit Singh & Jonita Gandhi Lyrics: Siddhant Kaushal Language: HindiGenre: Alt-PopMood: RomanticI heard this album on a bus just before boarding a flight. When the first song "Silsila" played, i felt like my heart had already taken flight into some orbit of happiness, much before boarding the aircraft. This is what Bollywood has been so dearly missing! Good melodies that sound fresh and can lift your spirits. Instead what I have been doing for the last 5 years when I hear a new Bollywood song is immediately start wondering and asking myself " Where Have I heard this song before?". Clinton Cerejo's guitars and The Piano make way for your heart to be left pounding after finishing the song. Shor Police have created a beautiful, explosive album, "Dhoom Dhaam," which I recently rated 4/5. There are 3 very good songs on the album, and this is my favourite. The melody is blissful, thanks to the writing by Clinton and Bianca Gomes, and Siddhant Kaushal adds more life to the song with his words. I love the chorus segment with the lead vocals and the accompanying backing vocals that go " taaron takey batton ka, ujli hui raaton ka, hone ko hai chala yeh silisila". Behold for what's about to come, we get a scintillating interlude on guitars and Arijit humming along. This small melody piece is a collection of notes that just soothes the heart. Jonita Gandhi takes over in the verse here and how she performs is exemplary for any young artist, combining style and substance in equal proportions. Listen to the delivery when she sings " Nazaron ke sheeson mein chehra hai jo khila" with that pain and vulnerability in the tone, and then the falsettos are pure gold in "ab shaayad roohon mein shuru hone ko hai chala". Shor Police have done a stunning job on arrangements, especially harmonies, guitars and rhythms. The mild interlude on the guitar solo after the verse by Jonita feels like magic. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Aftab Khan at Headroom Studio, Mumbai. @shorpolice @sidkaushal22 @iambinkybee @jonitamusic @kedarpallavi @mixedbyaftab @dharpok @clintoncerejo @arijitsingh 

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weekly 9 mar 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 9th March 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 9th March 20251. Chahte HainVocals: Shilpa Rao, Raghav ChaitanyaLyrics, Composition: Raghav ChaitanyaArrangements: Vaibhav PaniLanguage: HindiGenre: PopMood: RomanticI love the direction in which Raghav Chaitanya is heading, writing songs and delivering some fantastic melodies. 2025 has been a great start for this talented singer-songwriter as I am now featuring him for the second time this year. 'Begana' was the other song I reviewed earlier. Raghav writes the lyrics, and the melody and gets the amazing Shilpa Rao on board to perform the lead vocals along with him. The riffs on the keys create a nice background sound right through and Ishand Das accompanies on guitars.Kudos to Vaibhav Pani for the endearing arrangements that ensure the song sounds cooler and more gratifying. The song moves into a very engaging Synth Pop mode with some fabulous keys and synth refurbishments. The lines "Jo tum chahte hain, woh hum chahte hain" feels so enriching to hear, especially with Raghav's timely vibrato. The clincher is the Sarangi solo that intervenes in the interlude, thanks to Dilshad Khan, and this feels like pop fusion heaven. The melody feels like a bit of Raag Maand to me. Shilpa joins in the verse soon after and she delivers the lines like having a piece of cake, effortless and stylish. The way she sings "khushi chahte hain, na hi gham" with a mild aalaap, followed by that delightful ghamaka while singing " tumhari nigahen karam chahte hain" sounds all to magical, especially with Ishan's free-flowing guitar interventions. How can anyone reject this offer when Shilpa sings "Khuda ke liye, humse nazarein mila lo"? Thank you Shilpa for making every note sound special with your vocals. Aniruddh Anantha is on backing vocals, and it sounds emphatic with the lines "tere bin jeena". The recording engineers are Partho and Nishant, with Shadab Rayeen on mixing and mastering duties. @raghavachaitanya @sanika17_official @shilparao @tseries.official @tru_makers2. Abhi Kabhi SabhiVocals, Composition: Rameez KhalidLyrics: Rameez Khalid & Sarmad GhafoorMusic Production: Sarmad Ghafoor (SnM Studios , Islamabad)Language: HindiGenre: RockMood: EnergeticMusic Sans Frontiers! Yes, what do man-made borders have to do with appreciating music? I do feature a few Pakistani songs from now and then in these weeklies, especially if they do turn up in some Indian-specific playlists on Spotify. The song straightaway generates great energy thanks to the tempo, the emphatic drums and the combination of the violin with Rich Millin and Ben Sarfas respectively.Rameez Khalid is terrific on vocals here singing with such passion and the melody written by him is equally catchy and potent. The violins are brisk and the accompanying bass, guitars and drums make you tap your feet non-stop. I am not sure when exactly the song was released, because Spotify says 2024, but Youtube has a version from 5 years ago. Either way this song is worth listening to right now. Get hold of the scintillating solo on the violin by Ben as he carries you through a maze. "Bhoole hum sare ghum" is true when you hear such music. The lyrics are penned by Rameez and Sarmad Ghafoor, with the latter producing the music and handling arrangements as well. The interlude has some harmonies, with a drop in tempo, and marching style drums with Rameez singing "tere liye" as if saying this song is for my pleasure. What follows is an exhibition of vocal prowess by Rameez as he does some scat-singing with Ben equal to the task on this Jugalbandhi. @rameezkhalidofficial @sarmadghafoor @zparwez 3. Maatikinaaru OrutharuVocals: Gana ApelowComposition, Production: Leon James

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weekly 2nd march 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 2nd March 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 2nd March 20251. Mugai Mazhai Music Composed, Arranged and Produced by Sean Roldan Singers : Sean Roldan, Saindhavi Lyrics: Mohan Rajan Vocal Harmonies: Kalyani Nair & Neeraj M Selva Language: TamilGenre: Light Music /PopMood: RomanticHere comes the champion Sean Roldan. I met him at his Mumbai Gig with Sean Roldan & Friends performing Tamil Blues music and like the entire crowd I was wowed. I wasn't surprised and I was lucky to spend a few minutes with him after the gig, to convey my love for his music. A crackling beauty of a melody composed by the modern maestro with Ashwin Suresh's Nylon Guitar and some nice vocal harmonies adding to the beauty.The song's melody has impressions of Suddha Dhanyasi Ragam and it is evident right through. Kalyani Nair and Neeraj M Selva handle the harmonies with the playful flute intervention by Ashish Venkateswaran. When Sean sings the lead vocals " Kanmozhiyal pesadi, en uyirin mellisaiye" , I am floating into the skies. The chorus segment is a beautiful bit that has an uplifting ring to it with "mugai mazhai mugai mazhai, naan nanaigiren muthal murai". Mohan Rajan should be credited with the fitting words. The keys and rhythms are programmed and arranged to enable the song to reach a higher orbit of likability and the song feels like an Alt-Pop splendour. The interlude on the flute followed by guitars and harmonies is when Sean makes a Tamil music listener feel like listening to a piece of magic from Maestro Ilaiyaraja himself. Saindhavi joins and she hits every note like a woodpecker on the job singing "kalam neram maari pogume" after a fabulous vibrato. Sean excels in every department of composing, arranging, producing and performing this song in a way very few in India can so consistently. The tracks are recorded Aswin George John, Hariharan at Sounds Right. The mixing and mastering is by Balu Thankachan at 20db Black with assistance by Paul Daniel. @rseanroldan @millionoffl @saindhaviofficial @thinkmusicofficial @mohanrajan_lyrici @aswin_george_john @kalyaninair86 @neeraj_msg @a.s.h.musique @flute_ashish @thebaluthankachan @pauldanieldanny2. KanavukalSinger, Songwriter & Composer - Gowry Lekshmi Music Production - Ganesh Venkataramani Language: MalayalamGenre: ElectronicPopMood: EnergeticShe is one artist who deserves the famed title OG when it comes to indie music in India, especially from the south. Her delivery is by itself like a capsule that boosts the adrenaline in our veins. I feel like I am on steroids and I need to get up and dance when Gowry Lekshmi performs the Konnakol "thaka thimi thaka thakita thakita", and she follows this up with a high-pitched humming that feels like listening to a sorcerer trying to hypnotise us. The Keys, synths and rhythms that follow feel like "Roja Poo aadi vandhadhu" sung by KS Chithra and composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraja.Gowy has composed the music, written the lyrics and performed the lead vocals. Ganesh Venkataramani does brilliant music production and he elevates the song with the nice 90's styled synth-pop and dance-pop flavours. Ganesh also gives an energetic sound design on the heavy rhythm programming and adds style through the vocal harmony arrangements. The stanza is beautifully written by Gowry and that is why she is one India's best for trying to create content with consistency and quality par excellence. The lines that begin with "Dooram Thaanda Noppam Aarumilla, Vegam Pnam Pokaa Nereyundu" sets the mood for what's about to come. "Aadaan Neram Kaalonniderumengil" accompanied by the stylish synths and rhythms feels like a mesmerising ride beyond the gates of paradise. The champion producer/engineer Rex Vijayan gets cracking with his work on mixing and mastering the tracks. Is there some Abheri Ragam in the melody? Maybe. @gowrylekshmih @ganhitsthings @kalesh_govindan_3. Shaam Se Aaj 

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weekly 23rd feb 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 23rd February 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 23rd February 20251. Uyir Pathikaama Composed, Arranged, and Programmed by Santhosh Narayanan Lyrics: Vivek Singers: Vijaynarain, Aditya Ravindran, Santhosh Narayanan Language:Genre: Funk/PopMood: DanceSanthosh Narayanan hits two home runs on the trot. After a chart-topping 'Kannadi Poove' last week it is a funky dance number with outstanding vocals, basslines and harmonies to make the music lover feel joy all over again. Vijaynarain's vocal tone fits the bill of the young romantic hero so perfectly and that is why this song is laden with energy. With Karthi singing and just jostling about and Krithi Shetty pulling off some incredible steps, one can easily understand how amazing the song is going to look on screen. Santhosh has composed, arranged and programmed for this single and he along with Aditya Ravindran opens up the intro with some delectable harmonies. If Krithi is the heroine, the hero is bassist Naveen Napier killing it with incredible moments on bass guitars right through. It is the beating heart of this song when Naveen intervenes and entertains wholesomely on bass and Aditya energises the party with the electric guitar. Vivek, the lyricist is on fire mode with his words like " En raa kaalam atha varuthi varuthi, oru poo kaalam atha thodutha poruthi, oru pen mela pazhi sumathhi sumathhi".The hook line is pure delight as the singers go "Uyir pathikama vida mattalo", and then the following line adds fuel to the fire " Kanna sutthi olicha nooru kathi". Aditya handles all the additional synths and Karthik Manickavasagam is on additional arrangements duty. I love the thumps of the rhythms, drums and the simple notes on Keys to go all along. The interlude has these catchy Bluesy humming bits performed like guitar notes and what follows is a riot thanks to the composition of Santhosh and vocal prowess of Vijaynarain. The line "Aduthenna Kalavaram undangidumo" with the most unexpected notations and the basslines to follow is just an example of what is about to come. How easily does Vijaynarain perform the falsetto at the end of the line "nethi pottil muttham vaikka neram vandacho" is something that is beyond my comprehension and he does one more with "sondhathodu santhdipoma". The melody continues to move like one crazy joyride with lines like "nelakozhayuthu iva nizhal thaan partha". This could have only come from the repertoire of someone like Santhosh who just won't settle for the ordinary. He also plays the flute solo in this track just like in the previous single released 1 day prior. The recording is done by Santhosh, Karthik and Rupendar Venkatesh at Future Tense Studios Chennai. The tracks are mixed by Santhosh and additional mixing and mastering is by Rupendar @MixMagic Records. Meenakshi Santhosh is in charge of Music Management along with Studio Assistant Jabaraj. @musicsanthosh @vijaynarain @adityaravindran95 @vaavaathiyaarmovie @lyricist_vivek @krithi.shetty_official @nehagnanavelraja @napier_naveen 2. RoshniSingers: Pawandeep Rajan, Arunita Kanjilal Music Produced by: Salim Sulaiman Music Composed by: Shraddha Pandit, Keshav Anand Lyrics: Shraddha Pandit Music Co-Produced by: Shivansh Jindal Language: HindiGenre: PopMood: RomanticThis combination of singers and producers worked like magic a couple of years ago, and here too we get another blinder. Salim-Sulaiman produces this beauty performed by lead vocalists Pawandeep Rajan and Arunita Kanjilal. The melody is composed by Shraddha Pandit and Keshav Anand with lyrics by the former. She has a way with words and I am delighted to see Shraddha co-compose such a beauty as well. Nyzel Dlima uses that brief moment when Arunita pauses to give a faint touch of the electric guitar. The melody starts to seep in when she sings "Haan Tumse Mili Pehli wafa", after that gentle aalap. How gradually the tempo picks up before you even realize and Pawandeep's voice is like a warm hug. He sings "ishq ka dhaaga khaske pakadna" with the adjoining pacy guitars. The bass guitars, drums and keys engage in tandem with the chorus lines "tere ishq pe hain yakeen" sung by the lead vocalists in harmony. Shivansh Jindal does all the additional music production. Is there some Raag Yamunakalyani? Maybe!Getting that saxophone in the interlude is a masterstroke, that works so well, adding to the romanticism of the song. The stanza leads to some calmer moments and the melody is reinforced with the Sitar and Tabla and that is why you can always trust Salim and Sulaiman to elevate something already beautiful into something breathtaking. As we come to a close Arunita does a subtle ghamaka in " ab jo mile ho "which just kept me stunned for a few seconds. The way the two lead vocalists perform the chorus line in different octaves is wonderful. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Aftab Khan at Headroom Studio, Mumbai, with Vatsal Chevli as the mix assistant. 

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weekly 16 feb 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 16th February 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 16th February 20251. Kannadi PooveLyrics: Vivek Singer: Santhosh Narayanan Backing Vocals: Kapil Kapilan Composed / Arranged / Programmed By Santhosh Narayanan Language: TamilGenre: Ballad/FolkMood: PathosThe master is here and with his first song in 2025, the expectations were building up, especially after a fabulous 2024 with 'Kalki 2898AD' , 'Vaazhai' and 'Anweshippin Kandethum'. The movie "Retro" had a fantastic teaser and when it is a Karthik Subburaj and Santhosh Narayanan combination we expect fireworks. Rightly so this song came out and without wasting any time Santhosh gets the intro in full blast.The Violas by Manoj are strong and make marks like swords in an action sequence. The Violins join as another layer also played by Manoj, and we have the raw and earthy vocals of Santhosh. Nobody's voice fits a sad and melancholic melody like his and he gets the tone and delivery perfectly done. In his usual fashion, he gets as many layers as possible in the arrangements and production, and that is Santhosh trademark and what makes his artform special. The "azhagiye" in harmonies after Santhosh's "adi ennadi nee". This segment which we can also call the song's anu pallavi , "unakkul porandhu unakkul amrikkum" is so intense and beautiful, and Santhosh leaves us wanting more by having this play only once in the whole track. There may be some influences of Raag Keeravani, if I am not wrong and because of the mood and style of the song, I am reminded of Maestro Ilaiyarajas's "Oora therunjukitten, Ulagam Purinjukitten". Get a load of this interlude now with belligerent violins, and the emphatic rhythms by Pranav Muniraj. Interestingly a flute solo follows to ease the pain and this is played by Santhosh himself.  A song from Santhosh' own discography, in the tone, that I feel some similarity to is 'Ori Vaari' from the album "Dasara"The stanza is where Santhosh drags you deeper into misery with the melody "paavamadi en nenju". The line where I was sent to the moon itself was "hey vandakodi, en vannakili, en ullala unnala kaayam, vazhi kandenadi, uyir kondeneadi, en anbana koodu neeyum". How does he manage to write notations like these? Vivek provides rock-solid support with these powerful words. All the string section quartet arrangements are by Santhosh with additional strings arranged by the brilliant General Karthik Manickavasagam. The second interlude has this massive piece that feels like French horns and vocal chants together and the strings of course. I was reminded of Maestros "Nila Athu vanathu Mele" and in one interlude Ilaiyaraja uses sounds to depict the horns of imminent ships. The second stanza's melody is written differently by Santhosh and how refreshing to hear that. And Kapil Kapilan is used as a backing vocalist, for those high-pitched vocals in the background. As we approach the closing stages of the song, one man begins to shine viz. the bassist Naveen Napier. He is on his solo trip if you pay attention and all that cool bassline makes us go tripping and into a trance. The recording engineers are Santhosh, Rupendar Venkatesh and Karthik at Future Tense Studios. The tracks are mixed by Santhosh and mastered by Karthik. All the music management is handled by Meenakshi Santhosh with studio assistant Jabaraj. @musicsanthosh @lyricist_vivek @ksubburaj @napier_naveen @manojviolonist @kapilkapilanmusic @karthikmanickavasakam @meenakshi_santhoshnarayanan @rupendar_venkatesh 2. Paka Music Composed, Arranged and Produced - Justin Varghese Singer - K. S Chithra, Justin Varghese Lyrics - Suhail Koya Co-produced by Rijo Joseph Language: MalayalamGenre: Light Music/SymphonyMood: InspiringI have always loved Justin Varghese's work. Some of the most creative whacky and brilliant songs in Malayalam have come from him. Tacks like "Hijabi" from the album 'Meow' and "Kannu" from 'Vishudha Mejo' and the title track of 'Palthu Janwar' will be etched in my mind forever. Let us not forget the insane score of 'JOJI'. Anyway, I am so glad that he is back with a blinder of a song this time in a new movie album called 'Ponman'. I started listening to this song and I was generally pleased with the outcome from the start. The nightingale KS Chithra was performing like she was operating on a time machine. He starts in the intro with his vocals, but it is accompanied by some heavy strings, horns and percussions in the background. Justin has composed, arranged the whole song and co-produced the song with Rijo Joseph. The sound design feels like it is a battleground and after the intro opening verse things calm down a bit. The Piano comes like a breather, produced and arranged by Gichu Joy and the calming chorus by Aavani Malhar, Hinitha Hilary, Akshaya A.K, Sreekutty Sreenath and Vyshak Bejoy. Chithra ji begins her rendition and it feels like a mother's lullaby putting me off into an endless slumber and sleep. 

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weekly 9 feb 2025

Top Indian Songs of the week 9th February 2025

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 9th February 20251. GhostProduced and Mixed by sudan Mastered by Vavae Written by sudan & Frizzell D'souza Language: EnglishGenre: PopMood: RomanticIt would be fair, to say that Frizzell D'Souza is one of my absolute favourite Indie musicians in India today. She earned that thanks to her poignant vocals, and relevant and fresh songwriting to go along with. Last year her EP "In My Asymmetry" was one of the top 3 Indie EPs for me. Frizzell co-writes this gentle and beautiful pop single along with another talented bloke sudan, who too has been reviewed and featured by me before. This collaboration works like magic with sudan producing the song.He opens in the verse and I love that tone which makes the listener feel distant and cold for just a bit. The flowy acoustic guitars act like a stream of water that brings freshness and also helps us move to the next verse where Frizzell serenades you with her voice. The production gets a bit more energetic on rhythms. The tone and texture of her voice are a lesson for many young musicians learning the craft and wanting to make it big. She asks "Can you come some other time, if that's alright" If she was asking me this, why would I ever say No to a voice like this?Kudos to sudan and Frizzell on the very hummable melody, and sudan especially for getting the sound of the trumpets in multiple layers and horns in the background. Feel the pulse reverberating when Frizzell leverages her vocal abilities to deliver a stunning bridge section. Voila, there come the trumpets in the outro! @frizzell.dsouza @misfitsinc @notsudan @saasmitchhetri 2. Sab Jag AndhaMusic Composed and Produced By - Aman Pant Arranged By - Sairaj Vijay Puranik Singer - Romy Lyrics - Kabir, Ashwni Dhir Language: HindiGenre: Folkish/ Semi-classicalMood: PathosI came across this album on Apple Music called "Hisaab Barabar". It made no noise and there were reviews of the movie but nobody talked about the music. As always I listen to everything that gets released, and when I heard this album, I was more than pleased by the quality. No wonder, it was the composition of Aman Pant, a musician I have liked and paid attention to. Jayant Patnaik plays the heavy rhythms, giving the flavour of a folkish number, and the additional dholak is played by Omkar Ingawale & Mangesh Joshi. I am reminded of the fantastic works of Ajay-Atul and this is meant to be a compliment. Did I hear some Raag Pilu? Well, thankfully Aman Pant educates me that there is more of a Raag Charukeshi vibe. I feel the pathos not just in the melody and tempo but the magnificent vocals of Romy. Rajeev Prasanna's flute solo in the interlude is endearing and filled with morose emotions. The melody is composed by Aman, and all the arrangements are by Sairaj Vijay Puranik. Kanir and Ashwni Dhir are the lyricists. The vocal harmonies in some Qawwali style along with stunning bass guitars elevate the interlude. Veljon Noronha plays the guitars, strokes, and bass and does all the related arrangements. I was taken aback by the beginning of the stanza which starts, after a brief pause and in such a low vocal register. Romy sings "lobh mein labh" in a captivating style and with enviable control. Well done to the writers and the composer for creating something so touching. "Iss gol chakki mein phis gaya banda" sings Romy and I am feeling the heaviness in my heart. The recording engineers are Mukund Kondedeshmukh, Vishal Shinde & Bashab Bhattacharjee. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Bashab at Chirping Birds Studios. The closing outro with the strings in the background, the flute solo and Romy's singing are magical. @amanpant02 @mainhoonromy @sairajpuranikofficial @audiobybashab @rajeevprasannaflute @veljon6noronha @omkar_ingawale_official @jayantpatnaik @vishal.shinde62 @chirpingbirdsstudios @mangeshjoshiofficial 

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