Best Songs of 2016 - I
There is simply too much of new music to keep up that it may even seem futile an exercise to revisit the best of the year. But joy lies in taking that trip down the musical lane. So here are my favorites in Indian music (grouped together by composers) that I have kept coming back to from the 140 odd soundtracks I reviewed in 2016 -
Punnagaye, Rasaali, Sarsariya (A. R. Rahman) - Much has been written about these songs already. But Shashaa Tirupati, you rock!
Hey Who Are You, Belageddu, Thangali (B. Ajaneesh Loknath) - Ajaneesh gets Shreya Ghoshal to croon the lovely melody Thangali, but lets loose his wacky side in Kirik Party!
Nee Uravaaga (Ajesh Ashok) - After S.P.B. and Chithra, is Haricharan and Shreya the combo to watch out for?
Kar Gayi Chull (Amaal Mallik) - I must admit I was a little dismissive about this insanely foot-tapping dance anthem when I reviewed Kapoor & Sons back in March. But you know what? I still don't like the nonsensical lyrics, but those sick beats though...
Kadavulae Vidai (Anirudh Ravichander) - Anirudh ropes in composer-singer Sean Roldan for a splendid motivational song.
Kolkata (Anupam Roy) - Doesn't listening to this song automatically put a spring in your steps?
Kyun Re, Lamhon Ke Rasgulle, Dugg Duggi Dugg (Clinton Cerejo) - Clinton Cerejo makes his presence felt as a composer with these exceptional tunes.
Kannadikkala, Yaenadi, Kannamma, Adada Adada, Adiye Unna Paathida, Rain Rain Go Go (D. Imman) - Where Imman channels Ilaiyaraaja to fantastic effect!
Kan Vatchutta, Vandiyile Nellu Varum, Thalakaalu Puriyalaiyae, Nenjukkulla Ninnu Kittum (Darbuka Siva) - Easily one of the best film music debuts of the year.
Okko Nakshatram (Gopi Sundar) - Phenomenal use of strings and phenomenal singing from Karthik and Divya S. Menon.
Anguli Sparsham, Irakkam Varaamal, Athimarakombile (M. Jayachandran) - Kamboji is without doubt one of the best soundtracks of 2016, and the Bombay Jayashri-sung classical compositions are sheer bliss. That holds true for Shreya Ghoshal too in Athimarakombile.
Aaha Identha (Niladri Kumar) - The very definition of an exquisite melody, so sublime and transcendent.
Engae Ponaai, Indha Kaadhal Illaiyel, Maatrangal Ondre Dhaan, Konji Pesida Venaam (Nivas K. Prasanna) - The year Nivas K. Prasanna won over with not one but two refreshing soundtracks.
The Breakup Song, Gilehriyaan (Pritam Chakraborty) - I love The Breakup Song to bits. It's a little inspired from Pritam's own past compositions, yes, but it also sees Jonita Gandhi at the top of her game. Gilehriyaan, on the other hand, is ethereal stuff from the composer.
Lailakame, Premardramee Lokam, Oru Vela, Medapoompattum Chutti (Rahul Raj) - From the man who is fast becoming as dependable as Vidyasagar when it comes to producing fantastic semi-classical melodies.
Chudara Itu Chudara (Sai Kartheek) - The kids chorus and them Ilaiyaraaja feels!
Un Kadhal Irundhal Podhum (Leon James) - The very definition of a breezy melody, superbly sung by Armaan Malik and Shashaa Tirupati.
Oththa Mazhayila (Sam C. S.) - O Hariharan, where are you?
Maya Nadhi/Jadoo Rawan Rawan, Saala Khadoos/Poda Poda (Santhosh Narayanan) - Beautiful and captivating tunes from Santhosh Narayanan, each getting a different flavour in their respective Hindi and Tamil variants.
Pillo O Pillo (Beat Mix) (Shravan) - Point me to a song as addictive as this!
Kisa Paathiyil (Sushin Shyam) - A stunningly serene ghazal that you would never want to end.
Citramaaga, BabaRag or The King of the World, Aanandamayenu (Vivek Sagar) - For a Telugu film, Sheeshmahal just has one Telugu song. The rest are all either in Hindi or Tamil. But that doesn't take way the fact that they are damn fine tunes.
Punnagaye, Rasaali, Sarsariya (A. R. Rahman) - Much has been written about these songs already. But Shashaa Tirupati, you rock!
Hey Who Are You, Belageddu, Thangali (B. Ajaneesh Loknath) - Ajaneesh gets Shreya Ghoshal to croon the lovely melody Thangali, but lets loose his wacky side in Kirik Party!
Nee Uravaaga (Ajesh Ashok) - After S.P.B. and Chithra, is Haricharan and Shreya the combo to watch out for?
Kar Gayi Chull (Amaal Mallik) - I must admit I was a little dismissive about this insanely foot-tapping dance anthem when I reviewed Kapoor & Sons back in March. But you know what? I still don't like the nonsensical lyrics, but those sick beats though...
Kadavulae Vidai (Anirudh Ravichander) - Anirudh ropes in composer-singer Sean Roldan for a splendid motivational song.
Kolkata (Anupam Roy) - Doesn't listening to this song automatically put a spring in your steps?
Kyun Re, Lamhon Ke Rasgulle, Dugg Duggi Dugg (Clinton Cerejo) - Clinton Cerejo makes his presence felt as a composer with these exceptional tunes.
Kannadikkala, Yaenadi, Kannamma, Adada Adada, Adiye Unna Paathida, Rain Rain Go Go (D. Imman) - Where Imman channels Ilaiyaraaja to fantastic effect!
Kan Vatchutta, Vandiyile Nellu Varum, Thalakaalu Puriyalaiyae, Nenjukkulla Ninnu Kittum (Darbuka Siva) - Easily one of the best film music debuts of the year.
Okko Nakshatram (Gopi Sundar) - Phenomenal use of strings and phenomenal singing from Karthik and Divya S. Menon.
Anguli Sparsham, Irakkam Varaamal, Athimarakombile (M. Jayachandran) - Kamboji is without doubt one of the best soundtracks of 2016, and the Bombay Jayashri-sung classical compositions are sheer bliss. That holds true for Shreya Ghoshal too in Athimarakombile.
Aaha Identha (Niladri Kumar) - The very definition of an exquisite melody, so sublime and transcendent.
Engae Ponaai, Indha Kaadhal Illaiyel, Maatrangal Ondre Dhaan, Konji Pesida Venaam (Nivas K. Prasanna) - The year Nivas K. Prasanna won over with not one but two refreshing soundtracks.
The Breakup Song, Gilehriyaan (Pritam Chakraborty) - I love The Breakup Song to bits. It's a little inspired from Pritam's own past compositions, yes, but it also sees Jonita Gandhi at the top of her game. Gilehriyaan, on the other hand, is ethereal stuff from the composer.
Lailakame, Premardramee Lokam, Oru Vela, Medapoompattum Chutti (Rahul Raj) - From the man who is fast becoming as dependable as Vidyasagar when it comes to producing fantastic semi-classical melodies.
Chudara Itu Chudara (Sai Kartheek) - The kids chorus and them Ilaiyaraaja feels!
Un Kadhal Irundhal Podhum (Leon James) - The very definition of a breezy melody, superbly sung by Armaan Malik and Shashaa Tirupati.
Oththa Mazhayila (Sam C. S.) - O Hariharan, where are you?
Maya Nadhi/Jadoo Rawan Rawan, Saala Khadoos/Poda Poda (Santhosh Narayanan) - Beautiful and captivating tunes from Santhosh Narayanan, each getting a different flavour in their respective Hindi and Tamil variants.
Pillo O Pillo (Beat Mix) (Shravan) - Point me to a song as addictive as this!
Kisa Paathiyil (Sushin Shyam) - A stunningly serene ghazal that you would never want to end.
Citramaaga, BabaRag or The King of the World, Aanandamayenu (Vivek Sagar) - For a Telugu film, Sheeshmahal just has one Telugu song. The rest are all either in Hindi or Tamil. But that doesn't take way the fact that they are damn fine tunes.
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