Another year is coming to a close. And it is our turn to add our bit to the multitude of “best of the year” roundups that you would have come across already! Musically, the year was a bit of a mixed bag across industries (that we track actively); Bollywood fared weaker than last year, while things looked much better down South, albeit owing to the consistency of just a handful of composers. Anyway, onto the lists. Four top 25 lists this time – Bollywood, Malayalam, Tamil and non-film. And a smaller, miscellaneous list to fit the best film songs from other languages that we heard this year. The format, as usual, is Song Title (Movie) – Composer(s)|Singer(s)|Lyricist(s). And we have only considered movies that released in 2014 (as per wiki listings).
Bollywood Top 25
A lot of the leading composers from last year had a comparatively silent 2014, and that showed in the overall number of quality songs produced too. Nevertheless, there were enough to give us a tough time bringing the list down to 25 (+5 honorary mentions as usual)! Click on the individual song title to listen to it. There is also a playlist at the end of the section.
1 Jhelum (Haider) – Vishal Bhardwaj|Vishal Bhardwaj|Gulzar
2 Sooha Saaha (Highway) – A R Rahman|Zebunnisa Bangash, Alia Bhatt|Irshad Kamil
3 Harjaiyaan (Queen) – Amit Trivedi|Nandini Srikar|Anvita Dutt
4 Baawra (Kill Dil) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Shankar Mahadevan, Nihira Joshi, Gulzar|Gulzar
5 Zehnaseeb (Hasee Toh Phasee) – Vishal Shekhar|Chinmayi, Shekhar Ravjiani|Amitabh Bhattacharya
6 Khamma Ghani (Happy Ending) – Sachin Jigar|Papon, Smita Jain, Vidhi Mehta|Amitabh Bhattacharya
7 Aayi Bahaar (Ankhon Dekhi) – Sagar Desai|Kailash Kher|Varun Grover
8 Bawla Sa Sapna (Shaadi Ke Side Effects) – Pritam|Diva, Chorus|Swanand Kirkire
9 Khaamakhaan (Bewakoofiyaan) – Raghu Dixit|Neeti Mohan, Ayushmann Khurrana|Habib Faisal
10 Shake Your Bootiya (Finding Fanny) – Sachin Jigar|Divya Kumar|Dinesh Vijan, Mayur Puri, Sachin Jigar
11 Tu Kuja (Highway) – A R Rahman|Sunidhi Chauhan|Irshad Kamil
12 Khuda Na Khasta (One By Two) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Arijit Singh, Shankar Mahadevan|Amitabh Bhattacharya
13 Banna Banni (Revolver Rani) – Sanjeev Srivastava|Rekha Bhardwaj|Puneet Sharma
14 Adhure (Mary Kom) – Shashi Suman|Sunidhi Chauhan|Prashant Ingole
15 Beqasoor (Lekar Hum Deewana Dil) – A R Rahman|Nakash Aziz, Shweta Pandit|Amitabh Bhattacharya
16 Pakeezah (Ungli) – Gulraj Singh|Gulraj Singh|Manoj Yadav
17 Bismil (Haider) – Vishal Bhardwaj|Sukhwinder Singh|Gulzar
18 Manwa Laage (Happy New Year) – Vishal Shekhar|Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal|Irshad Kamil
19 Chaandaniya (2 States) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Mohan Kannan, Yashita Sharma|Amitabh Bhattacharya
20 Sun Ri Baavli (Lakshmi) – Tapas Relia|Papon|Manoj Yadav
21 Dil Ka Mizaj (Dedh Ishqiya) – Vishal Bhardwaj|Rahat Fateh Ali Khan|Gulzar
22 Preet (Khoobsurat) – Sneha Khanwalkar|Jasleen Royal|Amitabh Verma
23 Tu (Bobby Jasoos) – Shantanu Moitra|Papon, Shreya Ghoshal|Swanand Kirkire
24 Shayarana (Daawat-e-Ishq) – Sajid Wajid|Shalmali Kholgade|Kausar Munir
25 Dil Aaj Kal (Purani Jeans) – Ram Sampath|Sona Mohapatra|Prashant Ingole
Five honorary mentions.
26 Kill Dil (Kill Dil) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam|Gulzar
27 Paaji (Happy Ending) – Sachin Jigar|Amitabh Bhattacharya|Amitabh Bhattacharya
28 I’m Just Pakaoed (One By Two) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Siddharth Mahadevan|Amitabh Bhattacharya
29 Aye Jigida (Bewakoofiyaan) – Raghu Dixit|Vishal Dadlani|Anvita Dutt
30 Samjhawan (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya) – Jawad Ahmed, Sharib Toshi|Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal|Kumaar
Playlist for the top 25:
Top 25 Malayalam film songs
First of all, an apology to composer Srivalsan J Menon. For missing his gem of a soundtrack for Shaji N Karun’s Swapaanam when it came out a few months back. With a fabulous set of raga-based songs, this movie is my top Malayalam soundtrack for 2014, and I shall be reviewing it before the year is up. Anyway, the top 25 for now.
1 Oru Vela Raavinnakam (Swapaanam) – Srivalsan J Menon|Lekha R Nair|Manoj Kuroor
2 Ethu Kari Raavilum (Bangalore Days) – Gopi Sunder|Haricharan|Rafeeq Ahammed
3 Raave (Iyobinte Pusthakam) – Neha Nair, Yakzan Pereira|Neha Nair, Haricharan|Rafeeq Ahammed
4 Ullin Ullile (Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram) – Sean Roldan|Haricharan|Santhosh Varma
5 Kannaadi Vaathil (London Bridge) – Rahul Raj|Haricharan|Rafeeq Ahammed
6 Pakalinu Veyil (1 By Two) – Gopi Sunder|Murali Gopy, Sayanora Philip|B K Harinarayanan
7 Ee Pooveyilil (Pakida) – Bijibal|TR Soumya|Rafeeq Ahammed
8 Thaane Pookkum (Sapthamashree Thaskaraha) – Rex Vijayan|Job Kurian, Saptaparna Chakraborty|Engandiyoor Chandrasekharan
9 Aikbareesa (Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal) – Prashant Pillai|Preeti Pillai|PS Rafeeq
10 Madhava Maasamo (Swapaanam) – Srivalsan J Menon|Hariprasad, Sreeranjini Kodampally|Manoj Kuroor
11 Olakkam (1983) – Gopi Sunder|Nivas, Aleetta Dennis|B K Harinarayanan
12 Allah Hoo (Gangster) – Deepak Dev|Javed Ali, Deepak Dev|Raqeeb Alam
13 Maangalyam (Bangalore Days) – Gopi Sunder|Sachin Warrier, Vijay Yesudas, Divya|Santhosh Varma
14 Maanathe (Vikramadithyan) – Bijibal|Pushpavathy|Engandiyoor Chandrasekharan
15 Maane (Iyobinte Pusthakam) – Neha Nair, Yakzan Pereira|Neha Nair, Anil Ram|Rafeeq Ahammed
16 Ee Mizhikalen (Ormayundo Ee Mukham) – Shaan Rahman|Vineeth Sreenivasan, Mridula Warrier|Vineeth Sreenivasan
17 Vijanathayil (How Old Are You) – Gopi Sunder|Shreya Ghoshal|Rafeeq Ahammed
18 Mazhayil Nirayum (Parankimala) – Afzal Yusuf|Najeem Arshad, Mridula Warrier|Murukan Kaattakkada
19 Mazhaville (Swapaanam) – Srivalsan J Menon|Amal Antony, Chenkotta Hariharasubrahmaniam|Manoj Kuroor
20 Urvashi (Mannar Mathai Speaking 2) – Rahul Raj|Vijay Yesudas, Teenu Telence|Nikesh Chembilode
21 Kaattu Mooliyo (Ohm Shaanthi Oshaana) – Shaan Rahman|Vineeth Sreenivasan|BK Harinarayanan
22 Mazhanila (Vikramadithyan) – Bijibal|Najeem Arshad, TR Soumya|Santhosh Varma
23 Nodi Bhora Dheu (Masala Republic) – Mrittika Band|Madhubanti Bagchi, Suchal Chakraborty|Mrittika Band
24 Neeyillaathe Jeevitham (Tamaar Padaar) – Bijibal|Uncredited|Rafeeq Ahammed
25 Thammil Oru Vaakku (Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram) – Sean Roldan|Sean Roldan, Shaktisree|Santhosh Varma
And five honorary mentions
26 Eeran Kaattin (Salalah Mobiles) – Gopi Sunder|Shreya Ghoshal|B K Harinarayanan
27 Kaliyaay Nee (Swapaanam) – Srivalsan J Menon|Deepu Nair, Meera Ram Mohan|Manoj Kuroor
28 Sapthamashree Thaskaraha (Sapthamashree Thaskaraha) – Rex Vijayan|Suchith Suresan|Vinayak Sasikumar
29 Olanjaali Kuruvi (1983) – Gopi Sunder|P Jayachandran, Vani Jayaram|B K Harinarayanan
30 Sadaa Paalaya (Mr. Fraud) – Gopi Sunder|Sithara Krishnakumar, Sudeep Kumar|Traditional (GN Balasubramaniam)
Playlist for the top 25:
Top 25 Tamil film songs
I had received complaints from some readers about not having a separate list for Tamil in 2013, hence this set this time. I have not considered Vaayai Moodi Pesavum in this list since the Malayalam version was counted into that top 25.
1 Kannakkul Pothivaippen (Thirumanam Enum Nikah) – Ghibran|Charulatha Mani, Vijay Prakash, Sadhana Sargam, Dr. R Ganesh|Parvathy
2 Yaarumilla (Kaaviya Thalaivan) – A R Rahman|Swetha Mohan, Srinivas|Pa. Vijay
3 English Notes (Ramanujan) – Ramesh Vinayakam/Mutthiah Bhagavathar|Instrumental
4 Manasula Soora Kaathey (Cuckoo) – Santhosh Narayanan|RR, Divya Ramani|Yugabharathi
5 Yedhukkaaga Enna (Rummy) – D Imman|Santhosh Hariharan, Pooja AV|Yugabharathi
6 Endi Ippadi (Enakkul Oruvan) – Santhosh Narayanan|Santhosh Narayanan|Ganesh Kumar Krish
7 Rasa Magarasa (Mundaasupatti) – Sean Roldan|Rita, Anthony Dasan, Sean Roldan|Muthamil
8 Enthaara Enthaara (Thirumanam Enum Nikah) – Ghibran|Shadab Faridi, Chinmayi|Karthik Netha
9 Medhuvaaga Thaan (Kochadaiiyaan) – A R Rahman|Sadhana Sargam, SP Balasubramaniam|Vaalee
10 Yaarum Paakkaama (Nerungi Vaa Muthamidaathe) – Madley Blues|Chinmayi|Na. Muthukumar
11 Aye Mr. Minor (Kaaviya Thalaivan) – A R Rahman|Shashaa Tirupati, Haricharan|Pa. Vijay
12 Mounam Pesum (Amara Kaaviyam) – Ghibran|Chithra, Sowmya Mahadevan|P Vetriselvan
13 Kalvane (Megha) – Ilayaraja|Haricharan, Ramya NSK|Na. Muthukumar
14 Dhesayum Ezhuntheney (Jigarthanda) – Santhosh Narayanan|Meenakshi Iyer, Santhosh Narayanan|Pradeep Kumar
15 Aathi (Kaththi) – Anirudh Ravichander|Vishal Dadlani, Anirudh|Pa. Vijay
16 Odum Raiyila (Oru Oorla Rendu Raja) – D Imman|Abhay Jodhpurkar|Yugabharathi
17 Vinkandatha (Ramanujan) – Ramesh Vinayakam|Unnikrishnan|Thirumazhisai Alwar
18 Aagasatha (Cuckoo) – Santhosh Narayanan|Kalyani Nair, Pradeep Kumar|Yugabharathi
19 Vinmeen (Thegidi) – Nivas K Prasanna|Abhay Jodhpurkar, Saindhavi|Kabilan
20 Eeramai Eeramai (Un Samayal Arayil) – Ilayaraja|Vibhavari, Ranjith|Pazhani Bharathi
21 Kaadhala Kaadhala (Sathuranga Vettai) – Sean Roldan|Kalyani Nair|Vairamuthu
22 Kalla Payalae (Mosakutty) – Ramesh Vinayakam|Shreya Ghoshal, Haricharan|Jeevan
23 Sandi Kuthirai (Kaaviya Thalaivan) – A R Rahman|Haricharan|Pa. Vijay
24 Kaadhal Kanave (Mundaasupatti) – Sean Roldan|Pradeep Kumar, Kalyani Nair|Muthamil
25 Kaligaalam (Nerungi Vaa Muthamidaathe) – Madley Blues|Shankar Mahadevan|Harish Venkat, Thiyaru
Another five that missed out.
26 Mona Gasolina (Lingaa) – A R Rahman|Mano, Neeti Mohan, Tanvi Shah|Madhan Karky
27 Kannamma (Jigarthanda) – Santhosh Narayanan|Anthony Dasan, Rita|Muthamil
28 Agayam Theepiditha (Madras) – Santhosh Narayanan|Pradeep Kumar|Kabilan
29 Naalellaam (Aadama Jaichomada) – Sean Roldan|Shaktisree|GKB
30 Paalam (Kaththi) – Anirudh Ravichander|Shankar Mahadevan, Swetha Mohan|Yugabharathi
Top 25 Playlist:
Top 25 Non Film Songs
The major indie-focused TV shows were all missing this year – Dewarists just started last week, Coke Studio @ MTV and Sound Trippin’ did not happen. Music Mojo did happen down South though, and featured some excellent music this time too (there was a Coke Studio on the other side of the border, but that has been covered in a separate playlist anyway so excluded from this). And there were a few other musical initiatives and albums too that we happened to come across in 2014; this is a list of our favourite 25 from among all of those. We repeat what we said last year, this ranking is not a matching between the songs per se, since they make for an unfair comparison. Just a preferred order of listening, if you will. Not all songs are available for streaming online, so relevant links have been provided wherever possible. Only original songs that came out this year considered, not covers.
(We do not claim this to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire Indian non-film scene this year, just the best among what we happened to hear. So do excuse us if some deserving musician is missing here)
1 Sindhubhairavi Thillana (Music Mojo) – Navaneeth Sundar feat. Sathyaprakash
2 Inside (Cosmic) – Shammi Pithia
3 World Is Our Playground (TV Dinners) – Mikey McCleary
4 Skeleton Leaves (Anti Hero) – Circle of Sound feat. Nitin Sawhney
5 Geet Gaaoon (Raunaq) – A R Rahman|Jonita Gandhi|Kapil Sibal
6 Roday (Tandanu) – Indian Ocean feat. Vishal Dadlani
7 Taste Your Kiss (All Ball) – Madboy/Mink
8 Yeh Aasmaan (Humnasheen) – Deepak Pandit|Shreya Ghoshal|Manoj Muntashir
9 Over The Horizon – Agam
10 Departure (Natural Disasters) – Dualist Inquiry
11 We All Fall (Sony Project Resound) – Karsh Kale feat. Ankita Joshi & Sabir Khan
12 Oh Love (In Tokens & Charms) – Prateek Kuhad
13 Etiyochana (Music Mojo) – Stephen Devassy feat. Varijasree Venugopal
14 Chathe – Thaikkudam Bridge
15 Canvas of Silence (Canvas of Silence) – Rainburn
16 Little Things You Do (TV Dinners) – Mikey McCleary feat. Anushka Manchanda
17 Zero (Anti Hero) – Circle Of Sound
18 Pursuit of Happiness (Cosmic) – Shammi Pithia feat. Sonna Rele
19 Tandanu (Tandanu) – Indian Ocean feat. Shankar Mahadevan
20 Achudananda (Music Mojo) – Sopanam Ensemble
21 Alley Cat (All Ball) – Madboy/Mink
22 Hazaar Khwaab – Ashwin Srinivasan|Chandreyee Bhattacharya|Ashwin Srinivasan
23 Don’t Have To Lie (Sony Project Resound) – Pentagram
24 Kuchh Rishtey (Humnasheen) – Deepak Pandit|Shreya Ghoshal|Ajay Jhingran
25 Sneham – Dhibu Ninan Thomas feat. Job Kurian
The playlist (of what’s on youtube):
Top Film Songs from other languages
Finally, 15 other must-listen film songs from the year, which could not fit into the other lists. In no particular order, just listed them by the soundtrack and language.
1 Vadhantune (Run Raja Run: Telugu) – Ghibran|Chinmayi|Ramajogayya Sastry
2 Adiginde (Maine Pyar Kiya: Telugu) – V Pradeep Kumar|Abhay Jodhpurkar, Kalyani Nair|Wasistha Sharma
3 Shoonyamai (Paathshaala: Telugu) – Rahul Raj|Nikhil Mathew|Shree Mani
4 Kaakig Banta (Ulidavaru Kandante: Kannada) – Ajaneesh Lokanath|Shreya Ghoshal|Rakshit Shetty
5 Final Showdown (Ulidavaru Kandante: Kannada) – Ajaneesh Lokanath|Instrumental
6 Jeev Bhulala (Lai Bhaari: Marathi) – Ajay Atul|Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal|Guru Thakur
7 New Nava Tarana (Lai Bhaari: Marathi) – Ajay Atul|Kunal Ganjawala|Ajay Atul
8 Kshan He (Poshter Boyz: Marathi) – Lesle Lewis|Shankar Mahadevan|Ambrish Deshpande
9 Aisi Mori (Postcard: Marathi) – Gandhaar Sangoram|Nandini Srikar|Gajendra Ahire
10 Anka Banka (Buno Haansh: Bengali) – Shantanu Moitra|Torsha Sircar|Anindya Chattopadhyay, Chandril Bhattacharya
11 Bela Boya Jae (Buno Haansh: Bengali) – Shantanu Moitra|Shreya Ghoshal, Anindya Chattopadhyay| Anindya Chattopadhyay, Chandril Bhattacharya
12 We Could Be Kings (Million Dollar Arm) – A R Rahman feat. KT Tunstall
13 Desi Thoughts (Million Dollar Arm) – A R Rahman feat. Guitar Prasanna
14 My Mind is a Stranger without You (The Hundred Foot Journey) – A R Rahman feat. Solange Merdinian
15 The Gift (The Hundred Foot Journey) – A R Rahman
And that ends the 2014 music roundup – our biggest roundup yet in terms of number of songs. Have a great 2015, all!
PS: Big thanks to @kitha_n for playing a very effective sounding board during the shortlisting!
