Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 19th February 2023. If you are a musician submit your new music  with a clickable link on my Home Page 1. RijhaaunComposition, Lyrics and Vocals - Utsavi Jha Production, Mix and Master - ManavLanguage: HindiGenre: Jazz/PopShe is one undeniable talent and it shows when someone like Utsavi Jha gets featured time and again every time she releases a single. Now I can confidently say that this is her best work yet and I wish her the best to keep making my life better with such music. Utsavi is a young, inquisitive singer-songwriter from Mumbai and she has composed the melody, written the lyrics and rendered the vocals for this brilliant song. When Utsavi teams up with some spectacular musicians, a very good song automatically gets pulled into a higher orbit and first and foremost is the mastermind Manav who has produced the song with incredible prowess. The song starts with just the Piano and Utsavi's vocals, with the Piano hitting some fantastic notes and within a minute we discover that the song's inherent melody is quite enjoyable. Manav's typical indulgence comes to the forefront with the Piano and what sounds like a Pipe Organ intervention. It all has a very Jazz and Blues texture. Listen to the fantastic saxophone in the background played by Aniket Chaturvedi. The drums, and the vocal harmonies, are all important elements, but nothing quite matches the saxophone solo in the interlude and we also hear trumpets making it one unforgettable song that deserves to take the number 1 spot. The arrangements and programming tend to steal the limelight, but let us not forget the vocals and the stylist delivery by Utsavi. Manav also does the mixing and mastering for the track, and the vocals are recorded at PLayhead Studion in Mumbai. The animation and editing are by Suraj Singh and Hariom. Priya Waingankar is the photo editor.   @utsavijhamusic @man.musical @deffective_priya @lazyom @singhsuraj882. Dheemi Performed by - Ashish ZachariahWritten by - Ashish Zachariah, Khwaab, Ritvik KulshresthaProduced by - Ashish ZachariahLanguage: HindiGenre: Electronic Pop Asish Zachariah is probably of the top 5 music composers/producers in the country today. We are living in a very dark time where mediocre music gets superlative recognition, and amidst this guys like Ashish are like the canary in the coal mine. We have to treasure them not only for their talent but their unswerving commitment to giving us good music.I just played the song and despite the high bar, Ashish manages to cross it without any trouble at all. Another fantastic musician Nishant Nagar a.k.a. has penned the lyrics along with Ritvik Kulshrestha. Ashish composes, sings and produces this blinder. The flowy guitars come and go in layers and Ashish enhances the effect with layers of vocals also. There is so much to focus on, as we have a brilliant production on display here, and just like he sings " kaali kaali raaton mein phir milein". The heart starts racing as we hear the sound of the strings section in the background, along with a solo violin also gathering steam. Such music I believe can transport us to a parallel universe where we live forever without even an iota of pain. Ashish uses the synths and keyboards to great effect and the adrenaline-pumping drums give a fitting end to matters. The track is mixed to perfection by an outstanding musician Rex Vijayan, and Steve Smart does the mastering. Tina Thomas handles the covert art. Ashish and team, take a bow!  @ashish.zachariah @khwaab.music @ritvkk93 @rex_vijayan @stevemartmastered @tinaalicethomas 3. Bawaral RaMusic - Devdutta Manisha Baji Vocals - Ashish Kulkarni & Aanandi Joshi Lyrics - Ganesh NigadeMusic Arrangements & Production - Devdutta Manisha Baji & Bhushan ChitnisLanguage: MarathiGenre: Filmi MelodyI have never even heard of Devdutta Manisha Baji, and I am thrilled to feature this composer's melody in Marathi. It is sung by two renowned singers Ashish Kulkarni and Aanandi Joshi, both of whom I have featured on my weekly charts before. It is so refreshing to see a new musician compose so well in Marathi, a space dominated by the genius of Ajay-Atul and AV Prafullachandra. I am also excited to see some very familiar names here in various roles, all of whom I have featured in various indie projects. Ashish Kulkarni became a household name after his stint at Indian Idol, but he has been featured for his singles by me much before. He and producer/guitarist Bhushan Chitnis have worked together on indie singles as well. We have the guitars by Bhushan followed by the female harmonies comprising Malavika Dixit, Bhagyashree Abhyankar, Nidhi Hegde. Then comes the male chorus sung by Chinmay Jog, Ajit Vispute and Srujan Kulkarni. The solo Violin gives me an inkling that there is a Raag Bhimpalasi flavour just mildly. It is played with such elegance by Shruti Bhave. Ashish Kulkarni is so endearing with his vocals and he is matched equally by Anandi Joshi. The song has some excellent notes that make it so fresh and complete. Varad Kathapurkar plays the Flute and another point of attraction is the live percussion by Onkar Ingawale & Apurv Dravid. The song moves into the stanza without any interlude and you don't feel anything missing thanks to the immaculate arrangements and production by Devdutta and Bhushan with Srujan working on additional arrangements. The stanza only further reinforces the beauty of the song's original melody. Nikhil Laniekar and Himanshu Ambekar handle the sound design with recoding engineers Avadhoot Wadkar, Tushar Pandit, Roopjit Das, and Ajinkya Dhapare is the mixing engineer assisted by Virat Bhushetty. The stereo track mastering is done by Hanish Taneja. The lyrics are penned by Ganesh Nigade.  @ganeshnigade88 @aanandijoshi @ashishkulkarni.music @devdutta.baji.music @bhushan_bhu_chitnis @srujan_kulkarni @nidhihegde.music @violinshrutibhave @varadflute_official @mixedbyhanish @ajinkyadhapare @omkar_ingawale_official @apurvdravid @pandit_dawn 4. Kevadyacha Paan Tu Music & BGM - Vijay Narayan GavandeLyrics - Guru Thakur

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 12th February 2023. If you are a musician submit your new music  with a clickable link on my Home Page Also check out my video reviews of EPs like LAGAN feat. Dhvani Bhanushali, BOMBAY by Bombay The Artist, COKE STUDIO TAMIL's first song SAGAVASI , CLASS on Netflix by Aditya N and Nayantara Bhatkal and much more1. PreetMusic: Abhijit VaghaniLyrics: Shloke LalSinger: Dhvani Bhanushali, Abhijit VaghaniLanguage: HindiGenre: Ballad I have always wondered why some singers would choose projects that would do nothing to bring out their talent. The reason could be something else like such projects would enhance their fame and monetary prospects immensely. Anyway, Dhvani Bhansushali does so well on certain singles and projects like these, and I always wish she picks only good compositions to sing. This EP called 'Lagan' is a 4 track EP and I was quite impressed with 3 songs at least. Other than 'Preet' I loved 'Masoomiyat' and 'Shagun '. It is Dhvani's haunting voice in the lower pitch along with the mild Keys by Akshay Menon that get your attention. It is slowly accompanied by a strings section in the background and all elements get the tone and mood of the song perfectly in line. Abhijit Vaghani has composed and produced the songs in the EP and he has worked with Dhvani a few times before, all ending up with excellent tracks. One of my favourites to this day is their single "Radhe". Now we start hearing the fantastic guitars by Shomu Seal and the flute as well in the background and it forms the heartwarming interlude. Abhijit also turns vocalist in the stanza which is beautifully composed as well. Akshay also has arranged the terrific strings section. The best line is with Abhijit singing "lage ki sadiyaan yuhi nikal gayi" with excellent words by Shloke Lal and vocals as well. The Keys and guitars become more impactful here along with harmonies in the background. The outro is brilliant with the faint lonely flute by the brilliant Tejas Vinchurkar becoming so emotionally charged and then the strings and rhythms piling on the quality. Aftab Khan mixes and masters the track with mix assistant Vatsal Chevli. 'Masoomiyat' is very light on the ears and once again Dhvani thumps up the ante with her improvised singing. The Shehnai by Yogesh towards the end is the game-changer. "Shagun" is a melodious Folkish Pop song much like an AR Rahman-styled song. I recommend that people listen to the EP. @dhvanibhanushali22 @abhijitvaghani @shlokelal @hitz.music.official @akshay.menon.official 2. NaraziWritten and composed by - Taaruk Raina, Charan Singh PathaniaSung by - Taaruk RainaMusic Production- Charan Singh PathaniaLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop/BalladI recently read an article in the Hindustan times where the actor and singer Taaruk Raina mentioned the difficulty to break into the music scene, especially when he/she has a poor network or connection with people in the industry. Imagine what the situation would be for someone who doesn't even have an acting background and is entirely new to the field. Just a few months ago I had featured him in a song from the web series Mismatched Season 2 for the song "Kho Gaye". Now this song brings Taaruk's abilities further into the light. Charan Singh Pathania does the music production for this song and it has a good mix of live instrumentals and programming as well.I believe Taaruk has performed the vocals as well as played the acoustic guitars. When he sings "chupi hui hai, narazi" you can get a sense of the quality of the production. I must appreciate the harmonies and humming and then both their execution and arrangements, thanks to Charan Singh. Stuart Da'Costa is smashing it with his bass guitars. I love the part where Taaruk takes the high road on the pitch singing "aasan tha kya, rehna yun gawah". Utkarsh Dhotekar is another fantastic composer/producer and he creates some magic with the strings arrangements. Taaruk shows he is no novice with his vocals and I can only assume he will get better with every single. Mukul Jain is the mixing engineer. One must appreciate Taaruk for the impressive lyrics as well. There were moments when the song, owing to the harmonies and production, felt like I was listening to something as good as Coldplay's "Paradise" @taarukraina @charanmusic @tanyamaniktala @studirt @mixbymukul @utkarshdhotekar  3. SkyeWritten: O DaapunProducer: Bhargav DhapunLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop/RockIt has been a while since I featured the band O Daapun and the previous single "Dont u drop" which was a fantastic upbeat song.'Skye' is no less and we have the song written by the band members Siddhartha Hazarika and Bhargav Hazarika, with the latter producing this piece. Abhidhan Sharma plays the guitars and Jugal Pathak is the drummer. This is exemplary music just to show how the first opening seconds can impress a music lover. The guitars and drums just let you know that some severe quality stuff is coming our way. The vocals are scintillating and flawless, these vocals are the vehicle for the song's message to get through to the other side. I love how the drums come and go without being persistent. This allows the pop style of the song to carry through. I was astounded by the shock and awe when the line "Her hand was reaching out for something more" and after a pause, the guitars and humming take us on a super-fast joyride. The song scores high on elements like vocals, production and creativity.  @odaapun_ @nobinaryrecords @darshitaaa.c @siddharth_daapun @bhargav_daapun @drumboi_074. Paalmanam Composed and Arranged: Govind VasanthaSingers : Kapil Kapilan & Keerthana VaidyanathanLyrics: Vinayak SasikumarLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Filmi Melody

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 5th February 2023. If you are a musician submit your new music  with a clickable link on my Home Page 1. ByabodhanSinger - Ujjaini Mukherjee Music Direction - Barenya SahaLyrics - Somraj Das Language: BanglaGenre: Ballad I don't know whether to feel happy or disgruntled. I'll tell you why, as 2023 began, I started listening to a huge number of Bangla songs that got released in January, close to 40 or more. Based on my experience, I would love 6-7 songs at least in this sort of a cluster. However now, it is only 'Byabodhan' that made it past my rating metrics! So I feel disheartened. Having said that this song is so good that it tops the charts this week, and for that I am elated. Ujjaini Mukherjee has been featured many times on my website and she proves here yet again what a brilliant vocalist she is. Barenya Saha is the composer and I am sold in 10 seconds thanks to the brilliant arrangements by Dipesh Chakraborty, but also a huge round of applause to live instrumentalists Dwaipayan Ghosh on the stroke instruments, Jakirudding Khan on Guitars and Sandipan Ganguly on Strings. The combined effect of these instruments is mesmerising. The strokes are constant and Ujjaini grasps your attention delivering the lines with that innate sense of pathos. The Keys and Strings also keep the background occupied and Joy Nandy's timely intervention on the Tabla. The interlude has some strong harmonies and the Piano. Ujjaini owns this track, as she explores the ends of her vocal range with immaculate ease. To sing a song with an emotional connection and at the same time, sing it with adequate improvisations and vibrato are what make this a superior vocal performance. The outro with her free-flowing aalap is praise-worthy. The track is mixed and mastered by Debojit Sengupta. Somraj Das is the lyricist.  @ujjainimjee_official @barenyasaha @zeemusicbangla @spontaneous _somraj2. Ninnadu NodidaMusic: Arjun Janya  Singer: Sonu NigamLyrics: KavirajLanguage: KannadaGenre: Filmi MelodyArjun Janya is probably one of the most consistent film music composers and it is quite a rarity that someone scores such good songs with this incredible frequency. He ropes in Sonu Nigam, and there are not too many who can make a song sound this beautiful with just his/her vocal construct. It is like Sonu only keeps getting better and the love he gets from the Kannada audience is well-deserved. David Selvam is terrific at playing the acoustic guitars in the beginning, and he also is the one playing the bass and electric guitars. He also sizzles thanks to a lion's share of contribution to the output of the song, playing the Violin, Viola and also handling the Keys and Rhythm programming. Kannada music serves up a lot of melodies that stay close to the classical Raga influence and format, but this one is fresh and breezy and the interlude humming with the guitars in the background is proof of that. The backup vocalist is on fire with his fabulous humming in falsetto. The stanza takes a delightful turn after the first lines, as Arjun loads up the melody quotient. Here we hear the Violin and Viola played by David with the Cello by Seenu and Double bass by Ramachandran. At the end of the first stanza, just pay attention to Sonu breathlessly singing the Classical swaras at breakneck speed. When we get to the outro, the same notes that Sonu sang come onto the Violin. N Ramanathan the music co-ordinator and the track is mixed and mastered by David Selvam.  @davidselvam_official @sonunigamofficial 3. ShwasameLyrics - Vinayak SasikumarMusic - PS JayhariSingers - KS Harisankar, Nithya MammenComposed, arranged and programmed by PS JayhariAddn.Programming - Al NishadLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Filmi melodyIf last week had some stalwarts from the indie space lining up in the top 10 songs, this week it is some fantastic playback singers like Sonu in the previous song, and south Indian supremos KS Harisankar and Nithya Mammen on this Malayalam melody. PS Jayhari is the composer and the established Vinayak Sasikumar has penned the lyrics. This song is not just about the tune, or the singing, but also about the excellent array of live instruments and their perfect arrangements. Jayhari handles all the arrangements and programming as well, but there are some great contributions by other musicians who arranged and conducted the strings sections. The song begins with Harisankar's vocals and the mild Keys in the background. The sense I get is that there is either a Kalyani or Yamunakalyani Ragam influence in the notes. Let us not forget the wonderful chorus too, which is formed of vocalists Amal Antony Agustin, Alexeena Shymon, Aarya Janardhanan, Jyothis Varghese, Gineesh KM, Vyjayanthi PS, Sreehari Warrier, Mejosh Joshy and Sariga Chandran of VOXOSAAA Vocal Ensemble. Amal Antony Augustun conducts the chorus. Hari just soars higher with the title line singing in the high pitch and we hear the strings section in full flow thanks to Cochin Strings involving Francis Xavier, Carol George, Josekutty, Herald Anthony and Francis Sebastian. The interlude has the flute solo by Nikhil and it is heart-warming, Sanu PS accompanies on guitars. The wait to hear Nithya is over and as the stanza opens up, she embellishes the track with her sweet voice. The composition is so rich with a long and winding stanza and PS Jayhari needs to be applauded for that. Sravan Krishnakumar has arranged all the strings and played the Cello. The part towards the end with Hari improvising on the title line, and Nithya humming in the background shows the abilities of these vocalists. The recording engineers are Sai Prakash, Shiju Eediyatheril, Ajay KJ and Akshay Kakkoth. The track is mixed by Balu Thankachan, assisted by Hariharan and Paul Daniel, and mastered by Shadab Rayeen. Is there anything better to hear than when Nithya sings like this? That is the feeling I get when she sings the Pallavi and Anu pallavi. @harisankar_ks @nithyamammen @alnishad @shiju_ediyatheril @sravan.krishnakumar @cochinstrings @shadabrayeen4. Maahi Ve Lyrics, Composition & Production: Dhidipon Dowarah

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 29th January 2023. We have 9 indie songs and 1 film song in this list and at the top of the charts is a brilliant song that is bound to move you. 1. Dil Da PechaProduced by Semwal & AgaazzLyrics by Hemant VijhLanguage: PunjabiGenre: Synth PopI know Semwal as a guy who, a couple of years ago impressed me with a mindblowing album "Elephant in the room" which had 4 amazing songs at least. I have been waiting for his next big thundering track and here it is. When I listen to so many songs, I tend to have an inkling about which of these 400 songs will make it to the very top. I got that feeling for this song for sure. Punjabi hip-hop and melody and bhangra is probably the most popular and frequent style of music released every week in India, yet very few qualify under my metric system of rating music. So even before we analyse this song I want to congratulate Shubham Semwal and Agaazz( Arjit Singh) for producing this Synth Pop wonder and showing the way and inspiring young musicians. Many songs are set in this style because I was born in the 1980s, I tend to fall in love with this genre which was famous globally at that time. But what sets this song apart is the underlying notes, chord progression, scintillating guitars and synths and for this, we have to credit Sushant Joshi on synths and Ameen Singh on guitars. The moment the guitars start and the rhythms and keyboards get introduced, it is irresistible and you have to get up and dance. Semwal is on fire singing with a cool attitude and unabating energy in his voice. The joy of listening to the bass guitars and harmonies in the background brings a smile to my face. I love how the drift happens when he sings " Main na dil da Pecha Laona" and even more satisfying notes as they move within the lines "Nave Sajan utto naviyan gallan" and finally one more beauty in the concluding segment of "man taan naveyan vich purana". This is not run-of-the-mill, and Arjit and Semwal have done a brilliant job. The track is mixed and mastered by Vic Cuccia. @semwalmusic @agaazz_music @hemantvijh @viccucciamusic @dopameen23 2. Breathe Vocals, Lyrics, Music: Kamakshi KhannaLanguage: EnglishGenre: Pop/BalladThis is a special week with many stalwarts back on the bandwagon with some terrific music. If it was Semwal at number 1, Kamakshi Khanna makes a statement and delivers an important message on mental health as well through her latest single 'Breathe'. The only reason this song comes in at number 2 is that it lost by a whisker to Semwal's single. Kamakshi who I interviewed last year promised me and all listeners that all upcoming new releases will be fraught with loads of live instruments and some solid production. Just as we were promised, listen to this and enjoy the power of music, as it slowly rises like an ember turning into a conflagration. Kamakshi has sung, written and play the Ukulele and the galaxy of live instrumentalists glorifies this track. It is just the peaceful sound of the Ukulele and her high-pitched vocals that drive the song forward. Slowly we hear the Piano by Tarana Marwah, and bass guitars by Adil Kurwa. Everything else stops and becomes a distant dream when Ajay Jayanthi plays the Violin Solo and then all the strings in the later stages. I love the notes as well as the execution and there is no better instrument than the Violin to deliver a serious message like mental health. As the song progresses, it transforms into a ballad/pop style from just being a sombre ballad at the start. Karun Kannampilly plays the drums and Apurv Isaac is on the acoustic guitars. I can feel the pain and desperation when Kamakshi sings "I'm just trying to find peace of mind". Gaurav Raina does a fine job mixing the different elements. The last 1 minute or so is a symphony of vocals and all instruments to up the ante and Ajay, Karun, Adil, Tarana and Apurv steal the show.  @kamakshikhannamusic @komorebi.music @karunk @lala_music @a_diilla @groovio @ajayjayanthi @exchangemastering3. Stuck up Composition, Lyrics, and Vocals: Neha KarodeMusic Production: Rupjit Das Language: HindiGenre: Indie PopDidn't I just say that we have a great line-up of stars in this week's countdown? Here comes one of my favourites, Neha Karode and she too had a wonderful discussion on her singing career, working for Anurag Saikia, and creating amazing fusion music when I interviewed her last year. But I am happier now that Neha now comes up with an original composition and there is nothing that falls short of expectations. Neha writes some excellent lyrics clearing standing up and saying "You are the one who's stuck up". This Jazz/Pop song has a good underlying melody and Neha just smashes home run after home run when it comes to her vocals. Feel the presence of the bass guitars by Prince Gogoi, and electric guitar strumming by Jobin David. It is an English Jazz/pop song alright but the structure is very similar to an Indian film song that has the demarcated opening verse, and then the stanza. As we have seen before Neha collaborates with Rupjit Das as the latter produces this song with wonderful and apt arrangements and programming. The highlight is the segment in the stanza that goes "If you ease up a bit, pour out your heart and submit" with some fantastic strumming on guitars and rhythms. Rupjit is the mixing and mastering engineer and Mrinal Kanti Das is the recording engineer at Playhead Studio. @nehakarode_music @princegogoi722 @jobindavid @rupjit_playheadstudio @mrinalkanti.das.334 @playheadstudio  4. MagizhiniComposed & Produced by Rini and Shakthisree GopalanLyrics: Shakthisree Gopalan & Rajesh SridharLanguage: Tamil/EnglishGenre: Jazz FusionShaktisree Gopalan moved to NY City after graduation from Berklee College of Music. She is being missed in the Tamil Indie as well as Kollywood music scene. But when we live in the post covid world of digital innovation, one can score music from anywhere in the world, record it from somewhere else and have a vocalist living 1000 miles away, yet everything comes out like a perfectly mixed hot cappuccino. The song is composed and produced by Shaktisree and Rini. The lyrics have both English and Tamil sections and they are penned by Shaktisree and Rajesh Sridhar. The moment we get the instruments playing the notes, I got a sense that maybe there is some Nalinakanti Ragam in the tune. Rini vocally performs the Swaras, and this is the first time I am hearing and reviewing Hairini Raghavan a.k.a. Rini who is NY based singer, composer and violinist. Shaktisree's English lines are so endearing and soothing like a balm on a burn. Her vocals and delivery act as a perfect compliment to Rini's energetic lines in Tamil. We have some amazing live instrumentalists here like Marco Bolfelli on Guitar, Maxime Cholley on Drums, Marcelo Maccagnan on Bass, Carrie Frey on Viola, Thea Mesirow on Cello. All these amazing musicians are band members who work and tour with Rini. In fact, I am excited to see her and the band perform live in Mumbai on Feb 23rd. The song is a creative force of bringing in a classical Car

Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 22nd January 2023. We have 5 indie songs and 5 film songs in this list and at the top of the charts is a brilliant song that is bound to move you. 1. Toot Hi GayaProducer: Durgesh R RajbhattComposer: Durgesh R RajbhattLyricist: Saaveri VermaLanguage: HindiGenre: Filmi Melody When we hear some great music, it conquers everything, and I just surrender to the beauty of the melody straightaway. It is even more satisfying when it comes from the least expected quarters, say like Bollywood. One such album in January has been 'Chhatriwala' and it has multiple composers but it works pretty well. Durgesh R Rajbhatt is the composer and producer for this song that breaks your heart thanks to the melody and singing. Himani Kapoor is just unbelievable with her vocals, as she gets every element of the pathos spot on. Himani was solid in 'Me Vasantarao' for the song "Tere Dar se" and here she is once again showing her sublime singing skills. Saaveri Verma's lyrics have an equally magnificent impact. Durgesh not only composes but sings it like a dream after the initial lines by Himani. The use of the Tabla and Harmonium even while synths are being used and programmed is a wonderful combination. The interlude has some fast-paced acoustic guitars and strings sections executed and it stays brief moving into the stanza. It just keeps getting better with some solid vocals, the Sarangi and brilliant arrangements of instruments. I love how the stanza starts off with the guitars and when the lines repeat, they fade off and what we hear more is the Tabla and Sarangi combination adding immense delight. The way the stanza ends is another highlight of the track having both vocalists singing in two different layers. The change of pitch is subtle and creative. The song bears some similarities to the wonderful track "Dil K Gehna" by Rajat Nagpal and Yasser Desai released in 2022. Durgesh had impressed me last year with a fantastic indie single called "Khat", so it was just a matter of time before he came up with something awesome again.  @kapoorhimani @zeemusiccompany @durgesh_r_rajbhatt @thesaaveriverma 2. Jaane Phirse Kaise (2022)Composed, Written and Produced by Keshuv HuriaVocals by Vidhya Gopal, Keshuv HuriaLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop-Melody fusionKeshuv is one talented musician who came out as a very distinguished student from KMMC run by AR Rahman. This is not the first time I have featured his music, and he seems to be growing from strength to strength. This very EP has a couple of very good songs and I did feature a song "Teri Meri Kahani" which featured Sumedha Karmahe, and Keshuv has roped in some fantastic singers for the songs like Hansika Pareek. This one has another renowned singer who is quite suited for anything even remotely classical. Vidhya Gopal is the female lead vocalist Keshuv has written, composed, performed and produced this ravishing song that impressed me the most for its trajectory and stricture that never even sounded run-of-the-mill for a minute duration. Lascid plays the guitars and Dotaara and the talented Reena Gilbert is the mixing and mastering engineer. The vocals are endearing and we have a faint Violin, Guitars and Keyboards. Vidhya and Keshuv combine and start performing the vocals in Harmony and the eerie pathos element is sustained. In the stanza, I love the line "kal ko hum jo, rahe na rahe, rahega sada yeh afsana". Vidhya sings with just restrained control and she also delivers in the lower pitch. The outro on Keys is quite interesting and has that resemblance to the "Forrest Gump" OST soundtrack right at the beginning when the feather moves around in the air in the opening shot. The artwork is by Mriganka Bhuyan.  @keshuv_huria @vidhyagopal.musical @lascid_ @reena.gilbert @a_m_o_r_f_o_s3. Better Place (2022)Performed by Bulli Bainbridge, Shalmali KholgadeWritten by Bulli Bainbridge, Juhi SharmaProduced by Bulli BainbridgeLanguage: EnglishGenre: BalladThis EP 'Seasons' had some enjoyable music and the ones I loved the most are 'Betterplace' and 'Monochrome' featuring Shalmali Kholgade and Nushious respectively. Bulli Bainbridge a.k.a. Zain Calcuttawala is the composer and producer and he writes this tailor-made song for Shalmali. Juhi Sharma has penned the lyrics along with Zain. The violins, violas and Piano give an enraged entry like the way the curtain rises before a Broadway musical. Zain does a brilliant job producing this track and Shalmali is equal to the task. The strings section drops in intensity and after that, it is the Piano we also hear the adrenaline drop for Shalmali and all of it is intended. But just when she delivers the line " But without a sound, I scream" she ups the ante aided by the intense strings in the background. The harmonies @shalmiaow @andrewtmackay @siddharthbasrur @raghavmeattle @nushious @bohemiajunction @juiekablooey4. Another AvenueWritten and Composed by David BrittoProduced, Mixed and Mastered by Jason D'SouzaVocals by Riya Duggal Language: EnglishGenre: Synth-pop David Britto makes it a hat trick now with 3 consecutive singles being featured among India's best weekly music, but I can confidently say that this is his best work yet. This synth-pop beauty is written and composed by David, with production by Jason D'Souza. Riya Duggal is on fire and the vocals do the lion's share of pulling the song into a higher orbital of quality and likability. The lead guitars, bass and Keyboards are scintillating right from the start, but you do feel the magnetism when Riya sings "when your eyes intertwine with me, my oh my". The backing vocals support well but the song gets a good shift with the heavy Keys and Riya goes "Do I need to spell it out". I get the feeling David has given the entire gamut of creative freedom for Riya to explore her vocals and delivery these lines devoid of shackles. The lines might be the same but Riya has got different ways of executing them vocally, singing with a different style and an attached vibrato every time. The use of drums, rhythms and harmonies keep the interest intact. The DOP is Erika Besterwitch and all the art direction is by Tanvi Shah. @dave_arrows @jasonmxaudio @the_duggal_gal @bestie.erika @tanvi_joel 5. Maati Ko Maa Kehte Hain

Here are the best Indian songs of last week. There is some terrific debut by some musicians, especially check out the top ranking track sung by Shankar Mahadevan.  A few songs in this list are from the last month of 2022. 1. Meri Khushiyon KaMusic Composer: Sathish Nair Arranged & Programmed by: Vijayan Vincent Lyrics: Rashmi ViragLanguage: HindiGenre: Filmy MelodyI was puzzled when I heard this song in Hindi, wondering how and when did Bollywood start making such good songs. I was almost certain that this a south Indian song and I turned out to be right. The song is from a movie called "Regina" which is being made in Tamil and dubbed in other languages. Nowadays the trend is to release music in multiple languages with various singers. I loved the Shankar Mahadevan version in Hindi to Sid Sriram's versions in Tamil and Telugu for the simple reason that Shankar is a far superior vocalist. In-fact the song sounded very much like a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy melody that the trio were experts in back in the 2000s. It is his outstanding voice that drags you deeper into the song but never you forget to pay attention to the plethora of background instrumentals. Sathish Nair makes a lasting impression as the composer, and his aide Vijayan Vincent must be equally appreciated for the arrangements and programming because this song is elevated thanks to its arrangements of the Strings section. Balaji & Team plays the Strings with Cynthia on the Solo Violin, Viji on the Cello, Selvaraj on the Double Bass. The way Shankar sings "Sach kehta hoon, meri duniya hai tu" and it feels like listening to that great song "Maa" from 'Taare Zameen Par'. I can hear the brilliant woodwinds in the background as well in the anupallavi section. Bruce Lee Mani plays the acoustic guitar and Alaap Raju is the bassist. The Solo Violin catches your attention in the interlude reminding us of songs like "Poove Sempoove" by Maestro Ilaiyaraja. It is closely supported by acoustic and bass guitars. Vijayan and Sathish handle the Keys and Rhythm programming. The lines "raat bhar jag ke" clearly sounds like the lines "kadhal devadhaiye" from the song 'Germaniyin Senthaen Malare" by Ilaiyaraja. Senthil Prasath is the recording engineer and Hari Shankar has mixed and mastered the track. Let us not forget to applaud Rashmi Virag for the brilliant words. @msathishnair @vincent_vijayan @shankar.mahadevan2. DardArtist: Asim Azhar  Music Composer: Kumail Abbas, Hassan Ali, Asim Azhar, Qasim AzharLyrics: Kunaal Vermaa Music Producer: Qasim Azhar Language: HindiGenre: Indie popThe song immediately impressed in a jiffy it started with a pretty mundane line, and then the next line that follows stuns you. Azim Azhar is a vocalist, who goes solo on vocals but the melody is composed by Kumail Abbas, Hassan Ali, Asim and Qasim Azhar. The opening lines tell you the whole story in a nutshell and that is the prowess of lyricist Kunaal Vermaa. "Bhale roz rulaana, hasaa bhi de naa". The best line that transforms into something brilliant is" sau dafa rootho toh ek bar mana bhi lena", it gets a kicker from Asim's throbbing vocals, lead abd bass guitar notes in the background and those interesting rhythms. Dilawar Hussain plays the guitars and a big round of applause to Qasim for his outstanding production. There are additional vocals in the background too and it is just cool and catchy as a whole package. The track is mixed by Chris “TEK” O Ryan and mastered by Joe Bozzi. I love how all the frills come to a pause in the stanza and it is just the guitars and the vocals that glide through. The delivery here in the first set of lines is with a classical flavour and immediately the notes shift into something modern with a pop twist in the line "kya zyaada maangte hai".@asimazhar @kunaalvermaa @qasimazharofficial 3. Raat (2022)Sung, composed & written: Shrinidhi Ghatate Music Production: Rhythm Shaw Language: HindiGenre: Indie PopShrinidhi Ghatate is upping the ante now and after a phenomenal English single called "Wildflower" two weeks ago now it's a Hindi track. The versatility of Shrinidhi is on full display here and she so easily shifts the style of delivery from coolness to caution. Rhythm Shah plays the guitars and produces this track. Shrinidhi has written, composed and performed this track with such fine elegance. The keyboard programming and vocal harmonies stand out and the line that sticks to my mind is "madhoshiyan, khamosiyaan sama hai raat ka". The lead guitar solo just past the 2nd minute creates a very different tone in the interlude and from there on, even the stanza sounds different from the opening and title lines. Pankaj Borah does the mixing and mastering. The label is Ahaibam Records. @rhythm_shaw @pankajborahb @dusshbag @ahaibam_records @shrinidhighatate4. Fool Artist: Emmanuel de Noronha Lyrics: Emmanuel de Noronha Producer: Emmanuel de NoronhaThis 21-year old multi-instrumentalist and producer from Goa goes solo on this one and comes out a winner in all aspects. Emmanuel de Noronha has written, composed, produced and sung this endearing single called 'Fool" and from the very first notes on the Piano, you are bound to fall in love with one. Soon enough, the brilliant backing vocals and humming join in along with some terrific synths. The drums are a great introduction when Emmanuel sings " I was only good until I let you go". The song feels like listening to Rick Astley and some of his great singles like "Never gonna give you up". The bridge section came as a good surprise and I loved how the pitch of the song shifted gradually through the bridge section rather than being abrupt. @emmanueldenoronha5. Enlightened! Written, Recorded Produced by Rounak Maiti Language: EnglishGenre: Synth-popThis Bengali boy from Mumbai moved to Los Angeles for his education and has been around since 2011 this multi-instrumentalist impresses massively with this new single. The track is written, composed, produced and performed by ROunak Maiti. The song represents all the brilliant synth-pop music I grew up listening to in the 1990s. It felt a lot like "Take my breath away" by 'Berlin'. I love the writing as Rounak sings "Bring me an empty canvas, so I can recreate the space between your eyes". The notes deviate nicely into something more unexpected with the lines " Another reason to hot the killswitch again". The track is mixed by Sanjay Das and mastered by Matt Jeffries. The label is Pagal Haina Records. @rounakmaiti 6. Jhoom Le Tu (2022)

Here are the best of Indian music for the week ending 8th January 2023. Out of these 11 songs only 2 were released in 2023 , while the remaining were released late in December 2022. 1. Muttathe MullaSinger: K S CHITHRAMusic: by 4 MUSICS Lyrics: B K HARINARAYANANProgrammer: NIHIL JIMMYLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Filmi Melody4-Musics have been creating songs in Malayalam mostly and sometimes in Tamil and they do a wonderful job in creating untarnished melodies rich with live instrumental activity. I have featured them before but this one is probably their best yet. It is sung by the evergreen Diva KS Chitra, and it is almost beyond belief to hear her sing even today with this kind of vocal stability, control and impact. The group 4-Musics from Kochi has members Biby Mathew, Jim Jacob, Eldhose Alias and Justin James. The song has such a beautiful Pallavi and Anupallavi section with Chitra at the peak of her powers. It is set probably in Hamsadwani Ragam and the flute by Rajesh Chertala and acoustic and bass guitars vt Sumesh Parameswar decorate the track with great fervour. The way the Tabla starts off reminds me a some of Ilaiyaraja's greatest works and we have Anand and Boby Mathew playing the Tabla. The interlude has Cochin Strings in total domination mode, and with a few more Flute interventions, the song moves into a delightful stanza. It is such a rich melody that probably will end up being one of the best Malayalam releases of 2022. The strings and flute play cat and mouse in the second interlude. Balu Thankachan is the mix and master engineer, with Shekhar, Adhurv Babu as recording engineer @the4musics @kschitra @rajeshcherthala @thebaluthankachan @nihiljimmy_2. Zariya Tu Performed by RomyWritten by Romy, Sufi KhanLanguage: HindiGenre: Romantic BalladI did feature a song already called 'Maang Loon' a couple of weeks ago but did claim that the EP 'Zariya' has even better songs. So here it is, with a brilliant romantic ballad called 'Zariya Tu'. It is written by Romy and Sufi Khan with vocals by Romy. The sound of the acoustic guitars, bass, the string section in the background and the thumping rhythms all keep you incredibly glued to the proceedings. One more thing that works in favour of Romy is the amazing vocal harmonies arranged to perfection. I have a feeling there is a great influence of Raag Pilu (Kaapi Ragam in Carnatic). The song with some reverberating strings. I also love "Naina Pech Ladaayen by Romy and Simran Choudhary in the same EP and it has a sort of Latin Jazz feel to it, a groovy number that will make you want to dance. Finally, the slow sizzling melody called "Tu Mera Banja" sung by Vivek Hariharan and Madhubanti Bagchi is like an ode to AR Rahman's Bollywood music of the 2000s. Some amazing rhythms and keyboard programming along with fabulous singing intertwined with a melodious stanza make it a wonderful track.  @mainhoonromy @vivekhariharan @bagchi_mb @thisissimran_ @philosufi167 3. Mon Re Krishikaj Janona Lyrics & Music: Ramprasad SenMusic Arrangement: Joy SarkarSinger - Arijit SinghLanguage: BanglaGenre: BalladIt has been a while since we heard some good music in Bangla and finally it takes Joy Sarkar and Arijit Singh to get there. The song is composed and written by Ramprasad Sen a saint and poet who lived in the 13th century. Joy Sarkar the composer and producer, handles all the arrangements for the song and he also plays the Saz and Guitalele. The wonderful brass and strings section can be heard in the background and it can be credited to Souptik Mazumder and Achin Sarkar who have programmed. Arijit's vocals touch your heart unlike many of the Bollywood songs, where he goes about singing like a man with no heart, and maybe the bad compositions in Bollywood are to blame for that. Bubai Nandy plays the flute and Goutam Basu is the recording, mixing and mastering engineer. The Piano keeps the song grounded in its stated intent of being a slow and sombre song. It sounds very much like a Rabindra Sangeet owing to its slow tempo and structure. Ramprasad Sen is someone who brilliantly combined the Baul and Kirtan styles in his compositions. Sukanto Singha, Anirban Sinha Chowdhury and Joy all have taken up recording duties in the track. Arijit does remarkably well in transmitting the pain of the protagonist. I also am intrigued to listen to the Shreya Ghoshal version now.   @joythejoyous @arijitsingh @bubaibansuri 4. Fool's GoldPerformed by ruhdabehWritten by ruhdabehLanguage: EnglishGenre: R&BThis is the second successive EP that Ruhdabeh has released in a really short time and I did feature one single back in the earlier collective and in the latest called "about hue" I loved 'fools gold'. Tanay Purlekar is the producer, and Ruhdabeh has written, composed and sung this with such elan. Deivat Tapodhan is the man on the Piano that just feels like magic. She sings with such honesty and is filled with real emotion and the Piano aids in every note being delivered. The most favourite line that shines in the composition is " I realised, I can't even look her in the eye" and the notes drop towards the words in the end in the most unexpected fashion. Ruhdabeh raises the tempo in between and so does Deivat in harmony on the Piano. Her vocals are splendid and soar without shackles.  @tanay_parulekar @ruhdabeh @deivat_t 5. GabrieliteVocals/Acoustic guitar/Composition/Lyrics by Darren FernandesArranged by Ser O DuoLanguage: EnglishGenre: BalladDarren Fernandes is someone who I am featuring for the first time, and what a way for the artist to make a debut on my weekly charts. First of all the lyrics appealed to me right from the moment he sings " Or are you scared of your raging mind". The Flute at the beginning by Tomas Carrasco reminds me of Ian Anderson in Jethro Tull. Moa Edmunds Guevara plays the gentle nylon guitar. The track is sung, composed and written by Darren, as he also plays the acoustic guitars. The accompaniments on guitars and Flutes are constant and keep you hooked like listening to the Pied Piper. Thomas Juth does the mixing and mastering and all the exceptional backing vocals are done by Carrasco.  @darrenfernandesmusic 

This the list of the best Indian songs of the final week of 2022. I have handpicked these songs from over 350 songs across languages and states. 1. Keh Do NaVocals: Karan Verma Music: Swastik-The BandLyrics: Rohit Joshi, Mohit JoshiLanguage: HindiGenre: Alt-RockJust a couple of weeks left for 2022 to draw to a close and the good music keeps coming in like goods on a conveyor belt. The Chandigarh-based Alt-Rock band has been around for a while and this has to be one of their best work yet. The highlight has to be the scintillating solo on the Violin by Jatin Chhabra. Karan Verma sings pitch-perfect vocals but nothing comes close to the impact of the Violin. Rohit Joshi on guitars and Abhishek Thakur on the bass accompany all along and they spice up things in the interlude. The stanza has some fantastic vocals by Karan, where he not only delivers some very tough high notes but also sings some unpredictable and tough notes. "Bekakar ka yeh silsila mera jo mujhko" and this line is followed by "kyun" sung in very high notes, and then Kunal follows up with a humming in falsetto. Raghav Bhutani is on th3 drums knowing when to pause, and when to smash things at the last 1 minute, especially with a fiery electric guitar solo. The song has the best of both the Alt-rock as well as the Filmi Bollywood styles. Keshav Dhar is the recording as well as the mixing and mastering engineer for the track. @swastiktheband @malsonsmedia @keshavdhar 2. O Rendu Prema MeghaalilaMusic Composer: Vijai BulganinLyricist: Anantha SriramSingers: Sreerama Chandra & Kids Chorus (Veda Vagdevi,Harshita,Tanishka,Ujjwal,Anagha & Veekshith)Female hummings: Lakshmi MeghanaI cannot write enough about Vijai Bulganin, it always seems short of praise. He is a serious talent and I can only thank God that such a brilliant composer lives amongst us. Having grown up in the age of Maestro Ilaiyaraja, I have high standards for music appreciation so Vijai should feel really proud of his accomplishments and scoring quality. Just do listen to the opening lines and the title line sung by the children in chorus. The melody is so rich and pure that you will just feel your heart melt. The finer points which set Vijai apart are the brilliant rhythms that you hear when the title line is being sung. Anantha Sriram is the lyricist and along with the kids, Sreeram Chandra is the lead vocalist. Lalit Talluri is at his best, blowing you away literally in the interlude on his Flute. Be sure to hear the delicate but definite bass notes by Shallu Varun in the interlude and he is accompanied by Abin Sagar on the acoustic guitar and Ukulele. Sreerama topples you with his incredible vocal quality and the ghamakas in the high-pitch notes are pure gold. Do pay attention to the Chennai Strings Orchestra in the background with Sreerag Dennies on Strings programming and arrangements, and Enzon being the conductor of the live strings session. Those segments reminded me of Maestro's "Oh Butterfly". The violins are running on riot towards the end and Lalit Talluri finishes the song by playing the song's title notes. Bhuvanesh Narayanan does the Keyboard programming with Balu S on additional programming. Anudeep Dev handles the vocal arrangements and the recording engineers are Anand Gurrana, KK Senthil Prasath and Bhanu Prasad. The track is mixed by Balu S and mastered by Rupendar Venkatesh.  @vijai_bulganin @anantha.sriram @sreeramachandra5 @lakshmimeghana @rupendar_venkatesh @lalittalluri @abinsagar 3. KojagiriSingers - Shreyas Puranik & Aanchal TyagiMusic - AV PrafullachandraLyricist - Jitendra JoshiSong Composed, Arranged and Produced by AV PrafullachandraLanguage: MarathiGenre: Filmy MelodyThere two very important pillars in Marathi music industry are Ajay-Atul and AV Prafullachandra and the two brilliant composers are going head to head with the former scoring for 'Ved' and the latter for 'Godavari'. Last week we had 'Besuri' at the number 1 spot, and this week it is 'Kojagiri' at number 2. I must appreciate AV for roping in a brand new talent called Aanchal Tyagi. People who read my blog last week might be knowing Aanchal from a fantastic crowd-pulling track called 'Saajanwa'. The male lead vocals belong to Shreyas Puranik with lyrics by Jitendra Joshi. This song is so stylish and probably traverses through more than a couple of styles. The initial singing is happening at the lower end of the vocal range and both Shreyas, and Aanchal excel. Jeetu Thakur plays all the live strings that you keep hearing in the background, and he just is strikes you with the creativity in the interludes. AV Prafullachandra is obviously credited with all the arrangements, programming and production work. The lead vocalists also get to explore and exhibit their higher end of the vocal range later in the stanza and it is so impressive to hear Aanchal sound like a seasoned campaigner. The live strings are present non-stop and never for a moment are the arrangements seen even marginally dull. The track is mixed by AV and mastered by Shadab Rayeen. The recording engineers are Rahul Sarma, Samir Dharap and Chinmay Mestry. Listen to the layers of the flute as we come close to the second interlude. Here it is just like a masterclass on how to have live instruments arranged and young musicians can learn so many things just by listening to this track. The humming and the flute are all loaded with quality as we approach the song's outro.  @aanchalmusic @avprafullachandra @shreyaspuranikofficial @jitendrajoshi27 @shadabrayeen @samirdharap9 @4. DuniyaMusic Composed & Produced by: Salim SulaimanLyrics: Dr. V. Nagendra PrasadSingers: Vijay Prakash, Salim MerchantMusic Co-Produced by: Raj PanditSalim and Sulaiman, I always believe are responsible for spreading the love of music all across the nation and the way singers from all corners of the country are brought on board are worthy of appreciation. The duo composed and produced the song as part of the project Bhoomi 2022. The song creates a setting of a forest dwelling community singing this, with all the high-octane backing vocals by Rajiv Sundaresan, Muheet Bharti, Aditya Kalway, Suhas Sawant, Yashika Sikka, Darshana Menon, Umesh Joshi, Janardan Dhatrak, Aditi Prabhudesai, Dattatray Mestri, Deepti Rege and Archana Gore. The live rhythms form an important component and they are arranged by Taufiq Qureshi and Raj Pandit, but the live rhythm performances are by Mumbai Stamp involving musicians Arun Solanki, Gautam Sharma, Keyur Barve, Jignesh Patel and Omkar Salunkhe. Vijay Prakash can be heard singing about the earth and its residents calling for "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam". Anshuman Sharma does all the additional production. Very few could have delivered this kind of vocal performance, as Vijayprakash is on a roll here. The Keyboards are played by Raj Pandit, and Muheet Bharti is the bassist. It is not only the vocals, harmonies and rhythms, we also have some solid strings and brass section instruments in the background and they are stunning making you speechless. Tanuj Tiku produces these segments and Japjisingh Valecha conducts this session. Vijay performs the Konnakol and Swaras as part of the elaborate vocal performance and you are just glued to it. The recording engineers are Raj Pandit, Vijay Dalal and Abhishek Khandelwal. The track is mixed and mastered by Aftab Khan with Vatsal Chevli as the mixing assistant.  @salimsulaimanmusic @kaviratna_v.nagendra_prasad @tanujtiku @anshuman.sharma1 @vijayprakashvp @taufiqdjembe @rajpandit17 @muheetbharti @omkr99 @keyurdrums_official 5. Siva TerePerformed by Madhubanti BagchiWritten by A.M. Turaz, Sanjay Leela BhansaliLanguage: HindiGenre: GhazalAnyone who has watched or even been abreast with Bollywood for the last 10 years or more, must know that two very famous movie directors also compose music themselves for their movies, viz. Vishal Bharadwaj and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Sanjay has scored some amazing music in his recent movies like "Padmavat", "Gangubhai Kathiawadi" and "Bajirao Mastani". The song's opening lines have a resemblance to Kumar Sanu's "Sochenge Tumhe Pyaar" and that is why I feel there is a Raag Yaman influence. Madhubanti Bagchi is a fantastic vocalist, and she has been featured a few times by me in some Bangla songs, but this is probably one of her best. Sanjay uses the slow pace to create that massive impact of the Ghazal form and his generous use of the Tabla, Strings, Sitar and Sarangi all create such important layers in the song's beauty. Madhubanti is in top form singing "Khuda ke liye tu" in 3 to 4 different styles in the stanza, each time adding new ghamakas and improvisations. AM Turaz is the lyricist and he achieves an equally powerful impact with his words as have Madhu and Sanjay. 

Here is the list of Indias' best songs from across the independent and movie music space. After listening to more than 350 songs across languages and states of India. Do drop in your comments at the bottom of the article. If you are a musician submit your song on the website or DM me on Instagram. 1. BESURI Music - Ajay - Atul Lyrics - Ajay - AtulSinger - Vasudhara VeeLanguage- MarathiGenre- Filmi Melody/ Western Classical FusionJust last week I reviewed 'Ved Tujha' from the album 'Ved' by Ajay-Atul and these giants of Indian music prove their worth with another massive hit in the same album. In my opinion, this one is superior to the earlier song with some scintillating scores. When you have Vasundhara Vee doing the lead vocals, you probably have a winning formula already and this is the second straight week featuring a song of hers after last week's 'Garden Variety Hater' with Shalmali Kholgade. Ajay and Atul write, compose, program and arrange with Vijay Dalal being the recording and mixing engineer. The song is loaded with Pianos, Synths, Keyboards, and a persistent strings section. The sound design is fantastic and I had no doubts that this would climb to the number 1 spot in India for the week, the moment I heard it. Vasundhara sings it with such panache, and I have not heard many vocalists who can improvise and do vibrato with incredible ease and efficacy. Chinmay Mestry is the asst. sound engineer and the track is mastered by Donal Whelan. Who else but Rithu Vysakh could have played the Solo on the Viola and Cello with such impeccable style and grace? This will go down as one of the vocal performances to remember.  @ajayatulofficial @rithuvysakh @vasundhara_vee @chinamay.jpg 2. AINAVocals - Kaushik RamachandranMusic, Lyrics - Catastrotrophic DisintegrationLanguage- HindiGenre- Hindi RockHindi Rock bands are plenty, especially in the regions of Mumbai and Pune, and this is the first time I am featuring this band called "Catastrotrophic Disintegration", and Ill soon be listening to all the tracks in their debut album "Aaina". The title song is a heavy rock track infused with the goodness of Indian classical music, and 'Aaina' is probably set in Raag Charukeshi. Kaushik Ramachandran is the lead vocalist and he has vocals that allow him to tread into both the rock genre and classical Indian style. We can hear the influence of the guitarists Akash Prabhakar on rhythm guitar and Nandkishor Kumavat on lead guitar. Kunal Dalvi is both the lyricist as well as the drummer and the bassist is Pratik Borgaonkar. Kunal is a bundle of energy on the drums and the electric guitar solo is fierce once we get past the 3rd minute.  @catastrophic_disintegration3. CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSEComposed by Sanyanth NarothWritten by: Sanyanth Naroth and Abraham Zachariah Produced by Easy WanderlingsVocals - Pratika GopinathLanguage- EnglishGenre- R&B, Soul'Caught in a Parade' will certainly go down as one of the best indie EPs of 2022 in India and I have already reviewed 'Mayflower' a month or so ago. The song was slow, and sober and grew on me thanks to Nikhil Dsouza's vocals and the usual musical creativity of Easy Wanderlings. This one is the perfect example of the band's superior quality in composition and the talent pool that they boast of in terms of instrumentalists. Pratika Gopinath is the lead vocalist and she just serenades me into oblivion with her voice and the best line for me is "Everybody loves you, nobody needs you". Sanyanth Naroth composes the melody with lyrics by Sanyanth and Abraham Zachariah. The Clarinet in the interlude is played by Patricio Böttcher and Pedro Alvide, and what makes this a very enjoyable R&B/ Soul track is Varun Venkit's percussions. Abraham plays the drums and all the guitars are strummed by Sharad Rao. We can also feel the presence of Synths and Keyboards and it is Nitin Muralikrishna who does all the programming including the strings. The use of trumpets and trombones in the background gives the song the texture of Latin Jazz and Zion Mathew handles all the additional keys. I love the introduction of the flute towards the end, played by Siya Ragade and accompanied by backing vocal harmonies featuring Sanyanth Naroth, Sharad Rao and Joel Johnson. Shardul Bapat, Kartik Tate and Arnav Lalsare play the Violins. The track is mixed by Nitin, and mastered by Ronak Runwal.  @easywanderlings @graysparkaudio @ronakrunwal @palindromamusic @sanyanth @pratika.gopinath @malayvadalkar @radrao.g @shardulbapat @siyunever @zionmathew @abezch @sakshicrajan 4. SAATHVocals by Amira Gill, Haricharan, SathyaprakashWritten by Kausar MunirMusic- Santhosh NarayananIt has happened after a long time, and I just can't wait for the rest of India to find out about the incredible talent and abilities of composer Santhosh Narayanan. He is without doubt India's finest composer in my opinion and I felt elated when he first posted on Instagram about his project with Ashwini Iyer Tiwari on a new web series. The song is breezy, and melodious and makes for some loop-worthy listening. Santhosh excels not in in the underlying melody alone but also the arrangements and production that go into making the final product. The guitars and Ukulele are played by the talented multi-instrumentalist Aditya Ravindran, while all the strings section arrangements are by Karthik Manickavasagam. The first few seconds, the song starts and with the opening guitars and Ukulele, you know it lies right up there in the Santhosh zone of quality. The vocals must definitely belong to a seasoned artist, such is the authority and conviction in her delivery. No, it was Amira Gill ,who has been featured by me a few times especially working with Amrit Ramnath in 2022, and gets a great opportunity to perform for Santhosh. The opening lines tread along being very soft and classical, and that is why Amira's delivery is so pure painted with a tinge of Hindustani classical infusion. Santhosh gets the perfect vocalists for this one with Haricharan and Sathyaprakash being two male performers with gifted vocals. Amira displays that she possesses so much vocal variation and a wide range just in the lines "aa milke kaat le saare mushkilein" and then "manzilein safar mein ek saath hein" on wider ends of the vocal range. The interlude on the Violin immediately made me think if this was resembling a song composed by Govind Vasantha. I later find out that the Violin was played by the man himself, hence the quality. The song has so much to offer with a long pallavi and anupallavi, lasting close to 90 seconds. Sathyaprakash is so good that you feel your heart being moved by his voice when the stanza begins. I love how the lines"meri jaan, tu mere liye naa bani", are sung differently by the male lead just before the interlude. The presence of strings and the upright bass is so impactful. The best line of the stanza is "Na hai tu andhera, na hoon mein ujala", with the harmony of male and female leads and when the notes transform into something magnificent " bondh boondh mein bhi, milke samundar banein", you just end up surrendering to genius. and here too Amira soars into the high pitch with amazing elegance and impact. The last line with a synth loaded "Mere liye tu na bana" is where Santhosh gives a modern touch, deviating from the rest of the track, and even the Sathyaprakash and Amira move away from the classical touch to something more playful.@musicsanthosh @dsathyaprakash @amiragill @haricharanmusic @kausarmunir @adityaravindran95 @karthikmanickavasagam5. SINGARA SIRIYEMusic: B Ajaneesh Loknath Vocals: Vijayprakash, Ananya Bhat, Nagraj Panar ValturMusic Production: Bobby C R, B Ajaneesh LoknathLanguage: KannadaGenre: Filmi MelodyI know it is delayed, but it is better to feature it than completely miss or forget. Everybody talks about 'Varaha Roopam' because of the controversy (read my article), but this song is a masterpiece in its own right and reminds me of the heydays of Maestro Ilaiyaraja. Ajaneesh plays the keyboards, but I love how it starts with a folk song right at the beginning performed by Nagraj Panar Valtur. The way Ajaneesh moves from this part to the melody shows his genius, and he uses the bass guitars and flute by Kiran as a bridge. Once Vijayprakash starts we hear the wonderful rhythms by Kalyan Chakravarthi, and live percussions by Venky & group. The strings section is mesmerising and it is Chennai Strings Orchestra, conducted by Yenzone Baghyanadhan. Ajaneesh and Ganesh Karanth are heard on the backing vocals. The best part about the vocals is that Vijayprakash sounds mischievous while Ananya Bhat sounds shy and hesitant, just like the protagonists are shown on screen during the song. Also if you notice when Vijayprakash sings, it is the funky bass guitars that add decibels, but it becomes the serious sounds of the strings when Ananya sings. Kudos to the vocalists for bringing out that emotion to perfection. Balesh plays the Nadaswaram in the second interlude. The track is mixed and mastered by Sajayan Kumar with recording engineers Sajayan, Biju James, Narasimha Kruthi and Ashwin Prabath. @ananya_bhat_official @b_ajaneesh @vijayprakashvp6. MAANGLOONPerformed by RomyWritten by Kabul Bukhari, RomyLanguage: HindiGenre: This is another candidate for best EP/Album of 2022 and I will be featuring a few more songs but let us start with this one composed and performed by Romy. To me, it sounds like Raag Hamsadhwani straight away. The vocals are terrific, sung at a high pitch and accompanied by interesting rhythms. The flute solo, string section and acoustic guitars all decorate the interlude but the thumping percussions take the cakThe stanza is well-written and composed with Kabul Bukhari and Romy working together. I love the line "Tujhse tujhe, rabb se tujhe maangloon" and then followed by the humming. @mainhoonromy @kabulbukhari  7. NA JAANE TU NA MAIN JAANU Sung by – Vishal Dadlani & Shilpa Rao Music Composed by - Parth Bharat Thakkar Lyrics by - Chirag Tripathi Music Arranged & Produced by - Jarvis Menezes Language: HindiGenre: Filmi Melody/ PopManas Kumar plays the violin right at the beginning and you know that there is something to expect in this song. The Piano and drums dominate most of the instrumentals right at the beginning and it is refreshing to hear Vishal Dadlani after a long time. The interlude is a clincher as Manas' violin steals the show, and Parth must be appreciated for the wonderful composition of the melody. The arrangements and production credits per se go to Jarvis Menezes, so he is the man to have wonderfully arranged this interlude as well.  In fact that bit of the interlude was apparently written by Jarvis. Shilpa Rao takes over in the stanza and Parth and Jarvis experiment very well with the sounds and the Chords never sound repetitive or uninspiring for once. The humming is a fitting way to end the song and the production of this song is just breathtaking. @parthmusic @vishaldadlani @shilparao @chitrivichitra @kavyalimaye17 @himanshushirlekar255 @chinmay.jpg @samirdharap9 @manasviolin8. DO YOU CAREPerformed by: Meba OfiliaWritten and arranged by: Mebarisha Rynjah, Adiel MassarProduced by: adLBackground vocals: DappestThis is the second song from Meba's album after featuring 'My best behaviour' last week. This gets you into that mood of nodding your head right from the beginning and the stringed instruments pique your interest without wasting any time at all. I also sense maybe the presence of upright bass, and before I could pinpoint we get some violins, violas and cellos in the background. Dappest is the one involved in the background vocals and that keeps coming in between Meba's lead vocals and the instrumental arrangements. The Keys along with those finger flips all play second fiddle to Meba's amazing delivery. Listen to the part where she sings, improvises and does the vibrato around 'what you want, what you need, there is a thin line if you see'. Adiel Massar, Mebarisha Rynjah can pat themselves on the back for the arrangements, that is nothing short of genius. Adiel does the production while he and Mebarisha write the lyrics.  @mebaofilia @dappesst @fraapemusic @emerdjence.in @cassidygodwinmusic @_adlmusic 9. MERI ZUBAANSinger - Kamal KhanLyrics & Composer - JaaniMusic - B PraakArranged and programmed By Gaurav Dev, Kartik DevLanguage: PunjabiGenre: Filmi MelodyI feel alive not just listening to good music, but living and experiencing the consistency of terrific musicians who keep creating at an envious frequency. For all those who believe that music today has fallen off the cliff, just check out my weekly charts and here after Ajay-Atul's 2 songs in 2 weeks, we have Bpraak and Jaani combining for the 3rd song in the album 'Moh' to be featured in my weekly rankings. Paras Nath blows you away constantly with his flute interventions, and unlike the other two songs, it is not Praak as the vocalist, we have Kamal Khan singing here. The tune and melody are not new and sound like something we would have heard. It is the programming, arrangements and production that sets it apart from the rest. Listen to the interlude on the Flute solo and you will be mesmerised by Paras' performance. Bpraak produces and it is Gaurav Dev and Karthik Dev on arrangements and p[rogramming, so they deserve the huge credit. The rhythms and keyboards do enough to elevate the song. Gurjinder Guri & Akash Bambar have done the mixing and mastering. The outro is phenomenal with Kamal's humming and Paras playing the flute probably in the Darbari scale. 10. ZARA PAAS TOH BHAITHOPerformed by Shreya GhoshalWritten by Rajib Mona, Ravi BasnetProduced by Life & Music For those of us who are fans of 1990s Bollywood music, this could be just what the doctor ordered. There were many talented musicians back then, like Jatin-Lalit and Nadeem-Shravan who paid a lot of attention to the underlying melody and also made sure there were a lot of live instrumentals. Here too Rajib-Mona, the composers start things off with a Saxophone, and then the strings section and guitars decorate the song enough even before Shreya Ghoshal sings a word. Ravi Basnet is the lyricist and we have Shreya being at her best, emoting like many modern-day singers cannot even attempt. The way she sings " Zara paas to bhaitho", you are tempted to sit right next to her and listen. The acoustic guitar interlude is something we have been missing for quite a while, and with the strings, I am certainly transported back in time. A major push comes from the arrangements and production and that is why Rajib Roy Chowdhury deserves credit @shreyaghoshal @rajibdroychowdhury @uniyalsona @movementcreationsllp11. RUBAAIYAAN Music by Amit TrivediVocals by Shahid MallyaWritten by Swanand KirkireLanguage - HindiGenre - Retro MelodyI have already said this feels like a true comeback by Amit Trivedi, and to have 3 phenomenal songs in one album is worth raising a toast for. Rubaaiyaan is sung by Shahid Mallya, a fine singer and I am happy he got this opportunity to deliver a fantastic song. The clarinet right at the start draws you in and the rhythms and keys all point to a golden time in Indian music as well. It is accompanied by the Woodwinds and strings section. The best-sounding line is when Shahid sings " Dil di Rubaaiyaan", and I am melting in joy. The interlude is rich with so many things happening, like the introduction of the Sarod mingles with the Clarinet and strings, and the gentle Tabla in the background. It shows that Amit as a composer was hugely impressed and inspired by the music of the 1960s and hence he can re-create that magic and yet sound original. The last line with both SHahid and Sireesha sounds like a dream. Swanand Kirkire pens the beautiful, emotional words.  @itsamittrivedi @sireeshabhagavatula @shahidmallya @anvita_dee @swanandkirkire  12. LAUT AA MERE DES Music Composed & Produced by: Salim Sulaiman Lyrics: Shradha PanditSingers: Shreya Ghoshal, Sattar Khan LangaMusic Co-Produced by: Raj Pandit, Anshuman Sharma It is a juggernaut, the Bhoomi project and every sing that gets composed, produced and performed hits the right note without disappointing the music lover. Salim-Sulaimain duo now call up Shreya Ghoshal in 2022 for this track after "Muraliya" in 2021. Along with Shreya's ingenious performance, we have the rustic, folkish exuberance and earthiness of Sattar Khan Langa. Muheet Bharti and Nyzel D'lima play the guitars and it is the Mandolin by Tapas and Muheet that keeps intervening at important junctures. Shreya keeps you glued with her opening slow aalap-styled singing, and then Salim-Sulaiman get their A-game on with the heavy synths and keyboard influences. Salim plays the Piano and keyboard along with Anshuman Sharma and Raj Pandit. Amir Khan Bhiyani plays the Trumpet and we also get to hear the bass guitars by Rushad Mistry and Darshan Doshi on drums. I cannot point it out right but I feel both Desh and Kaapi( Pilu) Raagas are in the mix of things. The moment when Sattar Khan starts is such a high pitch and he delivers it with such style. The traditional percussions come into play with Satyajit Jamsandekar, Naeem Khan on Tabla, Aslam Dafrani and Satyajit on the Dholak as well. Raj Pandit, Muheet, Habib Khan and Kheta Khan all join the party through the backing vocals and chorus. Kheta Khan plays the harmonium and Feroj Khan plays the Morsing. Closer to the 4th minute, Shreya takes over completely and performs with such stylish and subtle vibrato, as though she has been handed a free hand to sing the way she likes. Aftab Khan has mixed the track along with mix assistant Vatsal Chevli. The recording engineers are Aftab, Raj and Muheet.  @shreyaghoshal @shraddhapandit @salimsulaimanmusic @nyzeldlima @rushad1981 @anshuman.sharma1 @rajpandit17 @muheetbharti @mixedbyaftab @sattarkhanlanga @13. KHAMOSHIMusic - KolamaVocals - Ashwin ThomasLanguage- Hindi/MalayalamGenre - Rock FusionRitic Joel plays the Keyboards and also produces and mixes this beautiful fusion track that brings the best of both worlds of Alt-Rock and Indian Carnatic Classical music. Just like Samil-Sulaiman has mastered that art, there are bands like Kolama in India that perform in this genre of Indian Rock fusion. Ashwin Thomas is the lead vocalist, and then Blesson Jacob and Edwin Antony are the guitarists. The song starts with a tinge of Abheri Ragam ( similar to Bhimpalasi in Hindustani). Kevin Verghese is the bassist and the pounding drums are played by Thomson George. The way Ashwin shifts from Hindi to Malayalam and back is seamless. @ash_thomas_156 @kolamamusic  14. ONE - KUKUBHPerformed by Kukubh, Mayank SharmaWritten by Kukubh MegwalProduced by Kukubh MegwalGenre - Alt-RockI loved the song 'Pacman' by Kukubh and Mayank Sharma a few months ago and I have been waiting to feature his next. Well here it is, and it is nothing like you can predict. That is what makes the song very exciting and Kukubh provides exactly what a music lover needs, quality combined with creativity. It sounds like a normal Soul/pop song with just the gentle guitars by Kukubh Megwal's vocals and bass by Mayank, but I dare you to think that way. The composition is quite complex and Kukubh does one step better with the programming and production. The use of the strings section is just beyond compare and he excels in getting the arrangements and execution spot on. The lines" I have been living here, but I see no difference" just comes out of the blue and that is the mark of an intelligent and committed composer. Just pay attention to the exuberant strings section in the background during these lines, accompanied by electric guitar and drums. This is a 9-minute track and so expect many moments of magic it will be a true music lover's delight. Kukubh also brings in the Flute and woodwinds to add to the incredible spread already on offer. When we near the 6th minute it is just spoken word poetry along with the guitars. Enjoy the silence and tranquillity after the initial half of belligerence.

Here is the list of India's best songs from across the independent and movie music space. After listening to more than 350 songs across languages and states of India. Do drop in your comments at the bottom of the article. If you are a musician submit your song on the website or DM me on Instagram. 1. MukilammathanMusic: BijibalVocals: Shahbaz Aman, Sithara KrishnakumarWritten by Bijibal, Harinarayanan B KGenre: Semi-classicalLanguage: MalayalamThe two vocalists Shahabaz Aman and Sithara Krishnakumar are among the finest and they pick only the best songs just like this one. Bijibal has composed this semi-classical melody that touches your heart with every note. There is an inherent sadness in their delivery and both Shahabaz and Sithara never lose track of the messaging and style of singing needed. Bijibal is immensely talented and consistent as a composer and he brings in all the wonderful elements of live instrumental music. Listen to the mesmerizing Veena in the interlude and this is where I felt that maybe there is a Raag Jog (Naatai in Carnatic) influence but the song probably has many other Ragas in the mix. The background strings section is so effective and it keeps you invested. The rhythms are simple but it is the vocals of Sithara and the accompaniments on Keyboards, Flute and melancholic humming that make you weep. The second interlude has the flute solo and Shahabaz continues to enthral just the way Sithara did in the first stanza. Harinarayanan BK has penned the words. 2. Sakkare PuttaMusic composer: Charan RajVocals: Meghana BhatMelody co-composer: Narayan SharmaMusic programmed by: Narayan Sharma Language: KannadaGenre: Filmy MelodyCharan Raj is an absolute genius and he will be among India's top 5 composers according to me. He gets even better when he works with this composer/producer/instrumentalist Narayan Sharma and the two have worked on the melody of this amazing song. The song immediately reminds me of Santhosh Narayanan's "Ey Sandakkara" from the movie 'Irudhi Suttru'. The strings in the background by Cochin Strings are fantastic and they too remind of the older song. The brilliant addition of the flute solo by Nikhil Ram in the background and all his interventions are the hallmarks of Charan and Narayan with the latter handling all the production. Keba Jeremiah plays that lovely acoustic guitar and there are segments where I am reminded of Santhosh's song " Vennila" from 'Vellai Yaanai' especially the interludes, the flute and the percussions. Let us not forget how brilliant Meghana Bhat is on the vocals as she keeps adding the oomph factor with huge generosity in the song. The combined effect of the flute, Keys, strings and percussions by Shruthi Raj is beyond magic. The song only keeps getting better as we hit the stanza and the melody of the song is elevated by all the multiple instruments and kudos to the arrangements and production. Venkatesh Bhat is the music supervisor and the recording engineers are Divine Joseph and Vishnuraj. The track is mixed and mastered by Sujith Sreedhar.  3. More Saiyyan JiSinger: Maninder ButtarLyrics: Jaani Music & Composer: BPraakLanguage: HindiGenre: Filmy -Folk MelodyHow many times do I have to say this? B Praak is a treasure and he is a diamond in the rough if I have to refer to music, in general, coming out of Punjab. He is not even singing in this venture and yet he just amazes me with the terrific production. The melody is not entirely new and many songs have similar notes, but it is the arrangements, and programming that magnify the goodness of this track. The Shehnai and Dhol and Dholak are a great combination making the wedding scene and setting come alive and Praak executes it perfectly. Maninder Buttar on vocals is full of life and maybe the song's style and genre don't suit B Praak as a vocalist with his heavy and high-pitched style of singing. In a way, the song does also remind me of Pritam's "Kabeera". The acoustic, bass guitars and vocal harmonies are huge factors in making the song feel fabulous. Gurjinder Guri and Akash Bambar have mixed and mastered the track. I especially love the chorus singing " tere bin mera, kaun piya re" in the second interlude. Jaani is the lyricist. 4. Trishna Antarman KiVocals and Composition: Nihira Joshi-Deshpande Lyrics: Apoorva Kulkarni Genre: Semi-classical FusionLanguage: Traditional HindiNihira Joshi-Despande is an exotic bird or a rare gemstone and although she might not be popular like some of the other modern-day female composers, she is right up there among India's finest. In-fact, if I have to rank some of them purely based on creative talent, Then Nihira will be the number 1 composer. Many months ago she released a Hindi song with a Latin Jazz twist which placed it right at the top of that week's chart. In this latest EP, I am quite confident she will set the guns blazing and the first track is a testament to that fact. Nihira's vocals are just accompanied by keys and it is set in Raag Hamsadhwani. The flute comes in when she sings "Bansuri". Carlos Cano plays multiple instruments like the flute, Vibraphone and all the percussion and he also handles all the arrangements. There is a massive intervention segment on all these instruments making it much more than a classical Hindustani-styled track. Hernán Milla González plays the Keyboards and the recording engineers are Amey Londhe and José Fernando Tercero with the former also mixing and mastering the track. Apoorva Kulkarni is the lyricist 5. Garden Variety HaterPerformed by Shalmali Kholgade, Vasundhara VeeWritten by Shalmali KholgadeProduced by Sunny M.R.Language: English Genre: Alt-popWe have already seen Shalmali's earlier single called 'Chills' from this EP and just like Nihira, Shalmali too is a prodigious talent. She is immensely underrated as a singer and composer and I am always ready to bet heavily on her. Here she performs along with another worthy compatriot in Vasundhara Vee. The two lead vocalists set the stage on fire with some amazing Tenor Saxophone , Trumpets and Trombones in the background played by Jovan Quallo, Steve Patrick and Joshua Scalf . Sunny MR is the genius at work here producing all the songs in this EP and the credits for arrangements and programming go to him. I can keep writing about the vocal performance and I can only view this as a beautiful battle between two astounding performers. 6. Phero Na NajariyaMusic by Amit Trivedi, Lyrics by Kausar MunirVocals by Sireesha BhagavatulaLanguage: HindiGenre: Retro MelodyI have been critical of Amit Trivedi over the last couple of years as he has been one composer who has fallen from grace. I remember being mindblown by albums like "Fitoor", "Dear Zindagi", "Lootera" and "Udta Punjab". His journey since 2019 has been nothing worth mentioning, so I was suspicious when I heard that Amit was the composer for this film called "Qala" based on a musician's life. To my greatest surprise, the songs in the album have been refreshing and I am glad that Amit has probably redeemed himself. The album has at least 3 amazing tracks, and to score music like the 1960s without sounding repetitive and uninspiring is one heck of a feat. This song takes me to a happy and contemplative space and Sireesha Bhagavutula is outstanding to say the least She is a vocalist who has been recently featured a lot on my weekly charts and I am elated to see her name in all the tracks of the album. The use of the Tabla, Harmonium and Sitar is exquisite and they create the aura of Retro music. As the song progresses we also hear the Sarangi in the interlude. Sireesha continues to sing with impeccable control and she never goes overboard keeping substance over style. Kausar Munir is the lyricist. 7. Aas Ka SoorajMusic - Ashu ChakrabortySinger - Javed AliLyricist: Amrendra VatsLanguage: HindiGenre: Filmy MelodyThe song has a Raag Jog influence in my opinion and the music is composed and produced by Ashu Chakraborty. He also has done all the design of rhythms and additional programming for the song. Ashu is someone who I have not reviewed or featured before and that is why it is very exciting to review his song from the movie 'Shadow Assasins'. Javed Ali is the lead vocalist with lyrics by Amendra Vats with some interesting messages. We can hear the impact of the grand orchestral music in the background, especially the strings section and it is Debasis Shome who has done all the orchestral arrangements. Sanjoy Das the exponent of guitars has also done the guitar design. Samir Dharap is the recording engineer along with Sanjit Giri and Soumen Paul. Soumen is also the mixing and mastering engineer for the track. The highlight was the introduction of the Saxophone in the interlude because not only was it a pleasant surprise, but it also was wonderfully executed and arranged. The song is very slow and melancholy-filled and Javed's singing  8. Sun Aye MiliSong Composed, Arranged and Produced: A.R. Rahman Singer: Vishal MishraLyrics: Javed AkhtarMusic Supervisor: Hiral ViradiaLanguage: HindiGenre: Filmi MelodyAR Rahman is not yet done, and if he is down, he is certainly not out yet. Ignore him at your peril, I guess. This movie is a remake of a Malayalam hit movie called 'Helen' and though the movie does not have great reviews, I liked a couple of songs, especially this one. Vishal Mishra is a composer/singer to watch out for, and If you have been following him or at least read my blog, his name would have been a regular. I am just stoked to see him performing for AR Rahman and just glad he is getting what he deserves. The strong points of the track are his vocals, the Sitar by Manisha Rai which keeps playing beautifully right through, and the vocal harmonies by El Fè Choir team. The movie is about survival instincts and ARR has gotten the right arrangements and production done to instil that feeling in us to make us experience what Mili herself is in the movie. Saar Singhal has conducted and arranged for the Sunshine Orchestra. This song could have been easily handed to Arijit Singh, but it would have sounded like 1000 other older songs, and it is only the fresh voice of Vishal that smashes this one out of the park. Dont you just love the vibrato bit "gunguna raha hmmmmm aaaa", and get up and give an ovation to Sarthak Kalyani for performing this incredible line. The rhythm programming, keyboards and the fast-paced Sitar in the background are pure gold. Sarthak is on the additional vocals and Keba Jeremiah. It has been a long time since ARR has created even a glimmer of magic like this, keep playing this on loop. The recording engineers are Suresh Permal, Karthik Sekaran, Sarthak Kalyani, Suryansh Jain, Prashanth Venkat, Nitish R Kumar, Dilshad Shabir Shaikh, Sivakumar S, Pradeep Menon, Aravind MS & Krishnan Subramanian. The track is mixed by Nitish Kumar and mastered by Suresh Permal, with iTunes mastering by Riyasdeen Riyan.  9. Mathe Mathe Muhu ModakeMusic: Arjun JanyaSinger: Vijay Prakash, Anuradha BhatLyrics: KavirajSome people don't seem to like his music, but from what I have heard over the years, I believe he has got quality and he never composes plain mundane uninspiring songs. Arjun Janya is the man being talked about here and check out this latest track sung by Vijay Prakash and Anuradha Bhat. Sound design, by Rajan, all the keyboard programming by Sharan Rao and rhythm programming by Aneesh Solomon deserve credit for their quality. David Selvam on guitars and Napier Naveen Kumar on bass are stunning. Bala plays the Nadaswaram and the song feels like an influence of Sumanesa Ranjani Ragam. The song has a good stanza as can be expected from Arjun and it gets glorified thanks to the lead vocalists. The track is mixed and mastered by David Selvam. 10. Ruk JaMusic Composed & Produced by: Salim Sulaiman Lyrics: Shradha PanditSinger: Sonu NigamMusic Co-Produced: Raj Pandit, Muheet BhartiLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop fusion The Bhoomi project continues and we have one more feather to the cap now in the 2002 collection. This one is sung by one of my Bollywood favourites of all time, Sonu Nigam and it is composed by the dynamic brother duo of Salim and Sulaiman. The Piano and keyboards for the spine of the song and we have Salim playing it and Sulaiman as always playing the Zen drum. It does remind me of the famous song "Pardesi Jaana nahin". Sonu is a master of using all his vocal strength and adding to the melody;'s beauty. It is a lesson for even other popular artists in knowing how to use ghamakas without being unimaginative and repetitive. Momin Khan Niazi plays the scintillating Sarangi in the interlude along with Darshan Doshi on drums. Salim-Sulaiman has a knack of writing musical notes with a lot of unpredictability and it happens here too in the opening parts of the stanza. The song is produced brilliantly by young talents Muheet Bharti and Raj Pandit who have been featured numerous times on this blog. Just listen to the change in style at the end of the first stanza, when the Tabla replaces drums and we have Ojas Adhiya and Naeem Sayyed playing. Muheet and Nyzel D'lima are on guitars and Jarvis Menezes is on the Keyboards along with Raj. It is always a dream to listen to Salim-Sulaiman songs especially in the Bhoomi Universe because of the immense effort and varied elements in every song. Rushad Mistry is the bassist, and all the wonderful Strings section and Brass section Orchestra is conducted and arranged by Japjisingh Valecha. This galaxy of young talent working under Salim-Sulaiamn's tutelage is the greatest gift the composers have given us. There are moments I sensed some Raag Charukeshi as well. The recording engineers are Aftab Khan, Raj and Muheet with Aftab on mixing and mastering duties and Vatsal Chevli assisting on mixing. 11. SaajanwaComposer : Abhijeet SrivastavaLyrics: Shayra ApoorvaMusic Produced by Aman Moroney, Ashish Manchanda, and Abhijeet Srivastava Vocals - Aanchal TyagiLanguage: HindiGenre: Indie popA couple of months ago visited Aman Moroney's studio, after the composer/producer invited me to have a little chat with some of his students who were learning music at The Media Tribe, an institute for music production. He played me a song that was set to release and I was blown away by the sheer magic in this woman's voice. Aanchal Tyagi was discovered after she was doing online covers of famous songs. She has now sung in a few songs with some great producers like Sashwat Sachdev and even sung in Marathi for AV Praffullachandra. This song will make you swoon and swing in joy as the melody composed by Abhijeet Shrivasta is sweeter than nectar, Aman's production is an example of turning something from 'Good' to 'Great'. The track is produced by Aman, Ashish Manchanda and Abhijeet. Just listen to Aanchal's vocals and you wonder if this is Shreya Ghoshal herself with a few years turned back. Aman plays the acoustic and electric guitars along with the Esraj as well. Ejaz Hussain plays the Sarangi. There is a strong chorus team involving Utkarsh Wankhede, Bhushan Meshram, Tejaswini Khodatkar and Gayatri Nagose and some fancy work follows after she sings "Main tumse haar gayi". This is where we hear both the Esraj and Sarangi. The stanza oozes of some rich musical quality and Abhijeet's tune is extremely catchy. Vaibhav Duratkar plays the Tabla, and all the vocal production and backgrounds are by Ghospop. The recording engineers are Jignesh Shetye, Dhaerya Malhotra, Aman and Abhijeet. The track is mixed and mastered by Ashish and Aman at Flying Carpet Productions.  12. SaavanGuitars/Composition/Production- Ritwik Shivam Vocals - Pritam Goswami AdhikaryLanguage: HindiGenre: Alt-RockIt was a few months ago in early 2022 that I featured and reviewed a song called 'Panchi' by the band Aarlon. Now they are back with an even better song that is bound to captivate you. Ritwik Shivam is the composer and producer and he also plays the guitar, the incredible vocal performance comes from Pritam Goswami Adhikary. Piyush Rana is also the guitarist and has penned the words for this track. We have the electric guitars and drums working in tandem along with the incredible delivery of Pritam, all making it one fine Rock song. Ankit Ganguly is the bassist and Prankeet Borah is the drummer. I love how the song shifts from being something on steroids to something as peaceful as the morning sun. This is one helluva song that will be most suited for lonesome listening and introspective thoughts.  13. TimeWritten and performed: Shujan De and KokoProduced by: Chirak JamioLanguage: EnglishGenre: Soul/PopThe song is titled 'Time' but the timing of its release did not matter to me. I remembered for a long time that this song moved me so much but I had completely forgotten to feature and review it back then. Thankfully I recollected it just time before 2022 ends. The song is performed by Shujan De and Koko with the immaculate production of Chirak Jamio. The strumming of the guitar breaks through like daylight at the turn of dawn and Shujan's voice reflects the vulnerability of a man in love. Until now the vocals and guitars keep you engaged, but when the brilliant strings section in the background turns up, I just succumbed and surrendered to the beauty of the song. Koko's vocals are incredibly pristine and complement Shujan's vocals. This song keeps you grounded and without realising the eyes shut down and the ears open wide to absorb the song's notes and arrangements in its entirety. I feel tears when I hear "who we are to fall in love". The track is mixed and mastered by Kevi Pucho with all the recordings happening in Element Indie Studio, Dimapur Nagaland.  14. Best BehaviorPerformed by: Meba OfiliaWritten by: Mebarisha Rynjah, Adiel MassarProduced by: adLLanguage: EnglishGenre: Soul, R&BRecently one of my favourite Indian musicians Shalmali Kholgade share a post on Meba Ofilia's album 'Untitled.SHG' and her amazing work. at about the same time I also listened to her music and it was nothing short of stunning. This brilliant hip-hop artist/songwriter hails from Shillong and she is one more source of evidence that North East India is the most talented lot in Indie music. I'll be featuring one more track called "Do you care?" next week but for now let us enjoy this, which just symbolises India's place in global music. It feels like listening to Tina Turner and my favourite line is "Still I put on my best behaviour" accompanied by the rich strings section in the background. Adiel Massar deserves all the credit for the music production, programming and arrangements involving rhythms and keyboards. There is some very interesting vocal harmonies section as well. Mebarisha Rynjah, Adiel Massar  15. Evariki VaraeMusic - Leon JamesSinger - Harish SivaramakrishnanLyrics - Ramajogayya SastryLanguage: TeluguGenre: Semi-classical fusionHere we go, and I am all praise for Leon James, as getting two songs from the same album featured is not an easy feat. Two weeks ago I wrote about "Avunanavaa" sung by Sid Sriram and composed by Leon and here is another beautiful song set in Reethigowla Ragam and sung by the great Harish Sivaramakrishnan of one of India's greatest bands Agam. The song has all the great assets of this incredible Raaga and Leon arranges and programs it with Violins, guitars and spectacular rhythms and keyboards. Ramajogayya Sastry is the lyricist and we can just fall in love with Harish's exquisite ghamakas. The Flute solo intervention and humming by Harish form a nice interlude ending with a brisk Violin solo. It becomes a worthy duel between these two instruments in the outro. 16. Kya KareinSingers: Ananya Birla & Ankur Tewari