And just like that, another year is about to come to an end. Which means another bevy of annual roundups that you have already been subjected to, to which I humbly add my own. It’s been a mixed year of sorts, musically; definitely the weakest that Bollywood has had so far – well, given the rate of increase of the epidemic called remixes, can’t say it comes as a surprise. The second half of the year some of the year’s better releases, but those were still not enough to average out the overall drop in quality. As has been the routine the past few years, it is in the other industries I follow, especially down South, that saw some of the year’s best works, mostly from the newer crop of musicians.
If you have followed my roundups in the past, you would know the rules of the game already; if not, a primer – the lists have been set according to movie release, meaning it only considers movies released in 2018. There are lists for Bollywood, Malayalam, Tamil, Indian Indie/pop and a miscellaneous list combining my favourites of the year from other language films (largely from Telugu, Kannada and Marathi this year). I have added a new list this time – instrumental songs in film – since I happened to hear a fair number of quality instrumental pieces as part of movie soundtracks and background scores this year (one of the things I liked about this year is the increase in background score releases, on streaming platforms). Except for that list and for the indie list, the format remains “Song title (Movie title) – Composer|Singer|Lyricist”. Playlists have been created in YouTube and Apple Music, both complete to the extent of song availability on the platforms.
Hope you enjoy the list. Wish you all a wonderful 2019!
(Artworks come from the amazing @cookydoh as usual)
Best of 2018 – Bollywood
1 Hallaa (Manmarziyaan) – Amit Trivedi|Jyoti Nooran, Romy|Shellee
2 Dilbaro (Raazi) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Vibha Saraf, Harshdeep Kaur, Shankar Mahadevan|Gulzar
3 Bol Ke Lab Azaad (Manto) – Sneha Khanwalkar|Rashid Khan, Vidya Shah|Faiz Ahmed Faiz
4 Aaj Se Teri (Pad Man) – Amit Trivedi|Arijit Singh|Kausar Munir
5 Nainowaale Ne (Padmaavat) – Sanjay Leela Bhansali|Neeti Mohan|Siddharth-Garima
6 Bohot Dukha Mann (Mukkabaaz) – Rachita Arora|Rachita Arora, Dev Arijit|Hussain Haidry
7 Aahista (Laila Majnu) – Niladri Kumar|Jonita Gandhi, Arijit Singh|Irshad Kamil
8 Dhadak (Dhadak) – Ajay Atul|Ajay Gogavale, Shreya Ghoshal|Amitabh Bhattacharya
9 Andhadhun (Andhadhun) – Raftaar & Girish Nakod|Raftaar|Raftaar & Girish Nakod
10 Grey Walaa Shade (Manmarziyaan) – Amit Trivedi|Jazim Sharma, Harshdeep Kaur|Shellee
11 Nagri Nagri (Manto) – Sneha Khanwalkar|Shankar Mahadevan|Meeraji
12 Chaav Laga (Sui Dhaaga) – Anu Malik|Papon, Ronkini Gupta|Varun Grover
13 Mere Naam Tu (Zero) – Ajay Atul|Abhay Jodhpurkar|Irshad Kamil
14 Naina Banjaare (Pataakha) – Vishal Bhardwaj|Arijit Singh|Gulzar
15 Mujhe Chaand Pe Le Chalo (Sanju) – A R Rahman|Nikhita Gandhi|Irshad Kamil
16 Raazi (Raazi) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Arijit Singh|Gulzar
17 Ishq Di Baajiyaan (Soorma) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Diljit Dosanjh, Shankar Mahadevan|Gulzar
18 Heartquake (Karwaan) – Anurag Saikia|Papon|Akarsh Khurana
19 Manwaa (October) – Shantanu Moitra|Sunidhi Chauhan|Swanand Kirkire
20 Ghoomar (Padmaavat) – Sanjay Leela Bhansali|Shreya Ghoshal, Swaroop Khan|A M Turaz, Swaroop Khan
21 Azaad Kar (Daas Dev) – Anupama Raag|Swanand Kirkire|Gaurav Solanki
22 Woh Ladki (Andhadhun) – Amit Trivedi|Arijit Singh|Jaideep Sahni
23 O Meri Laila (Laila Majnu) – Joi Barua|Atif Aslam, Jyotica Tangri|Irshad Kamil
24 Mushkil Hai Apna Meil Priye (Mukkabaaz) – Rachita Arora|Brijesh Shandilya|Dr Sunil Jog
25 Monobina (Gold) – Tanishk Bagchi|Monali Thakur, Yasser Desai, Shashaa Tirupati, Farhad Bhiwandiwala|VAYU
Honorary Mentions
1 Nazar Na Lag Jaaye (Stree) – Sachin Jigar|Ash King, Sachin Jigar|VAYU
2 Kya Kahoon Jaaneman (Namaste England) – Mannan Shaah|Shashaa Tirupati|Javed Akhtar
3 Jaan Nisaar (Kedarnath) – Amit Trivedi|Asees Kaur|Amitabh Bhattacharya
4 Oye Hichki (Hichki) – Jasleen Royal|Harshdeep Kaur|Jaideep Sahni
5 Swagpur Ka Chaudhry (Kaalakaandi) – Sameer Uddin|Akshay Verma|Akshay Verma
Best of 2018 – Malayalam
1. Jeevamshamayi (Theevandi) – Kailas Menon|Harisankar KS, Shreya Ghoshal|Harinarayanan BK
2 Neramayi (Poomaram) – Faizal Razi|Shreya Ghoshal|Ajeesh Dasan
3 Karineela Kannulla Penne (Joseph) – Ranjin Raj|Akhila Anand, Karthik|Harinarayanan BK
4 Naadottukku (Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri) – Sayanora Philip|Job Kurian, Prarthana Indrajith|Anvar Ali
5 Muthumani Radhe (Thattumpurathu Achuthan) – Deepankuran|Vijesh Gopal|Beeyar Prasad
6 Maanathe (Oru Kuttanadan Blog) – Sreenath Shivashankaran|Vijay Yesudas, Mridula Warrier|Rafeeq Ahammed
7 Mizhi Niranju (Eeda) – John P Varkey|Roshni Suresh, Amal Antony|Anvar Ali
8 Kondoraam (Odiyan) – M Jayachandran|Sudeep Kumar, Shreya Ghoshal|Rafeeq Ahammed
9 Aaraaro (Koode) – Raghu Dixit|Anne Amie V|Rafeeq Ahammed
10 Aparaada Panka (Maradona) – Sushin Shyam|Fejo|Fejo
11 Pranayasaagaram (Poomaram) – Vishnu Sivasankar|K S Chithra|Balachandran Chullikkaadu
12 Paalthira Paadum (Captain) – Gopi Sunder|Shreya Ghoshal|Rafeeq Ahammed
13 Neermaathala (Aami) – M Jayachandran|Shreya Ghoshal, Arnab Dutta|Rafeeq Ahammed
14 Ente Shivane (Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri) – Sayanora Philip|Suraj Venjaramoodu|Sayanora Philip
15 Bamba Bamba (Iblis) – Dawn Vincent|Ashok T Ponnappan|Manu Manjith
16 Kannum Kannum (Vikadakumaran) – Rahul Raj|Vineeth Sreenivasan, Akhila Anand|Harinarayanan BK
17 Kannaanthalir (Velakkaariyaayirunthaalum Neeyen Mohavalli) – Viswajith|Vijay Yesudas, Viswajith|Anil Panachooran
18 Ini Raave (Ranam) – Jakes Bejoy|Vidhu Prathap|Joe Paul
19 Thodu Thodu (Angane Njanum Premichu) – Hesham Abdul Wahab|Job Kurian|Nishad Ahmed
20 Kanne Kanne (Mandharam) – Mujeeb Majeed|Neha Venugopal, Niranj Suresh|Shabareesh
21 Neela Neela Mizhikalo (Ente Mezhuthiri Athazhangal) – M Jayachandran|Vijay Yesudas|Rafeeq Ahammed
22 Kaayalolam (Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal) – Bijibal|Bijibal, Anne Amie V|Santhosh Varma
23 Enthe Kanna (Aravindante Athithikal) – Shaan Rahman|Megha Josekutty|Harinarayanan BK
24 En Mizhi Poovil (Dakini) – Rahul Raj|Harishankar KS & Amrita Jayakumar|Harinarayanan BK
25 Haalu Haalu (Oru Pazhaya Bomb Kadha) – Arunraj|Afsal, Rinil, Akhila Anand|Ajeesh Dasan
Honorary Mentions
1 Medasooryante (Udalaazham) – Sithara Krishnakumar, Mithun Jayaraj|Bijibal|Unnikrishnan Avala
2 Kocheeloru Kappaluduthe (Rosapoo) – Sushin Shyam|Munna|Santhosh Varma
3 Ini Oru Kaalathe (Poomaram) – Leela L Girikkuttan|Karthik|Ajeesh Dasan
4 Neelaraavil (Nithya Haritha Nayakan) – Ranjin Raj|M G Sreekumar, Sujatha|Kalika
5 Paravayai (Thobama) – Rajesh Murugesan|Kalyani Nair, Pradeep Kumar|Shabareesh Varma
Best of 2018 – Tamil
1 Vasantha Kaalangal (96) – Govind Vasantha|Chinmayi Sripada|Uma Devi
2 Kaarkuzhal Kadavaiye (Vada Chennai) – Santhosh Narayanan|Sriram Parthasarathy, Vijaynarain, Ananthu, Pradeep Kumar, Santhosh Narayanan|Vivek
3 Potta Kaattil Poovaasam (Pariyerum Perumaal) – Santhosh Narayanan|Yogi Sekar, Fareedha, Ananthu, Vijaynarain|Vivek
4 Bhoomi Bhoomi (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam) – A R Rahman|Shaktisree Gopalan|Vairamuthu
5 Avan (Seethakaathi) – Govind Vasantha|Harish Sivaramakrishnan|Madhan Karky
6 Geedhaara Kiliye (Nimir) – Darbuka Siva|Sathya Prakash|Mohan Raj
7 High On Love (Pyaar Prema Kaadhal) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Sid Sriram|Niranjan Bharathi
8 Sodakku (Thaana Serndha Koottam) – Anirudh Ravichander|Anthony Daasan|Mani Amudhavan & Vignesh ShivN
9 Ennadi Mayavi Nee (Vada Chennai) – Santhosh Narayanan|Sid Sriram|Vivek
10 Anthathi (96) – Govind Vasantha|Chinmayi, Govind Vasantha, Bhadra Rajin, M. Nassar|Karthik Netha
11 Vaa Rayil Vida (Pariyerum Perumaal) – Santhosh Narayanan|Prithika|Vivek
12 Mazhai Kuruvi (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam) – A R Rahman|A R Rahman|Vairamuthu
13 Konjaali (Diya) – Sam CS|Sathyaprakash D, Neha Venugopal, JKA Shalini|Madhan Karky
14 Edhu Varaiyo (Kolamaavu Kokila) – Anirudh Ravichander|Sean Roldan & Gautham Vasudev Menon|Vivek, Gautam Vasudev Menon
15 Kanna Endhan (Amutha) – Arun Gopan|K S Chithra|G.Ra
16 Alathi Anbai (Asuravadham) – Govind Vasantha|Ananthu|Karthik Netha
17 Pulli Nangal (2.0) – A R Rahman|Bamba Bakya, A.R. Ameen, Suzanne D’Mello|Na Muthukumar
18 Never Let Me Go (Pyaar Prema Kaadhal) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Suranjan, Shweta Pandit|Oviya Oommapathy
19 Kannamma (Kaala) – Santhosh Narayanan|Pradeep Kumar, Dhee, Ananthu|Uma Devi
20 Life of Ram (96) – Govind Vasantha|Pradeep Kumar|Karthik Netha
21 Rowdy Baby (Maari 2) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Dhee, Dhanush|Poetu Dhanush
22 Nenjil Mamazhai (Nimir) – B Ajaneesh Loknath|Haricharan & Shweta Mohan|Thamarai
23 Thedi Thedi (60 Vayadu Maaniram) – Ilaiyaraja|Benny Dayal, Vibhavari Apte Joshi|Palani Bharathi
24 Mayakkadha (Silukkuvarupatti Singam) – Leon James|Sudharshan Ashok|Madhan Karky
25 Maadila Nikkura (Vada Chennai) – Santhosh Narayanan|Gana Bala & Dhee|Gana Bala
Honorary Mentions
1 Aanandhi (Maari 2) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Ilaiyaraja, M M Manasi|Poetu Dhanush
2 Pesugindren (Aan Dhevathai) – Ghibran|Chaitra Ambadipudi|Karthik Netha
3 Nenje Nenje (Sema) – G V Prakash Kumar|Siddharth Mahadevan, Shashaa Tirupati|Yugabharathi
4 Aariyane (Ghajinikanth) – Balamurali Balu|Shweta Mohan|Kabilan Vairamuthu
5 Oonjala Oonjala (Kanaa) – Dhibu Ninan Thomas|Sid Sriram, Niranjana Ramanan|Mohan Rajan
Best of 2018 – Indian Indie/Pop
1 Saagara Shayana Vibho (A Dream To Remember) – Agam
2 Rise (St.) – Sanjeev T
3 Timeless (The Emerging) – Sutej Singh
4 Aaftaab (Vaaqif) – The Local Train
5 Alonely (Alonely) – Paloma and Adil
6 Aasmaan Ki Dukaan (Raah-e-Fakira) – Swarathma
7 Crazy Little Thing Called Chakravaakam (Single) – Thayir Saadham Project feat. Ranjani Gayatri
8 Spring Ostinato (Ambient Hamlet) – Eashwar Subramanian
9 Ghane Badra (Lal Pari Mastani) – Sona Mohapatra, Ram Sampath
10 Plastic. Elastic (Persons.Elastic. Superior.Fantastic) – Madboy/Mink feat. Karan Joseph
11 Mist of Capricorn/Manavyalakinchara (A Dream To Remember) – Agam
12 Buddhi Ketta (Baemaani) – Amrit Rao & The Madrascals
13 Joyous Rain (Bridge of Dreams) – Shubha Mudgal, Sandy Evans, Sirens Big Band, Sudhir Nayak
14 Khoye The Hum (Sammukh) – Paradigm Shift
15 Inside My Head (Namah) – Thaikkudam Bridge feat. Marco Minnemann
16 Mazedaar (Itni Jurrat?) – Daira
17 Kashmir (Marz) – The Yellow Diary
18 Duur (Duur) – Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family
19 Raati (7UP Madras Gig) – Santhosh Dhayanidhi feat. Bamba Bakya
20 Tere Jeya Hor Disda (Izafa) – The Yellow Diary
21 Dhvani (Ta Dhom Project) – Viveick Rajagopalan
22 Oora Paaru (Single) – Funktuation
23 Nirmohiya (Single) – Nihira Joshi Deshpande feat. Rhythm Shaw
24 Vizhi (Black Whole) – Radar with a K feat. Harish Manigandan & Shravan Sridhar
25 Happy Sad (The Derelicts) – The Derelicts
Honorary Mentions
1 Ghallu Ghallenutha (Folk Fusion) – DJ Yash Gowda feat. Ananya Bhat
2 cold/mess (cold/mess) – Prateek Kuhad
3 Mulla (Hope Project) – Job Kurian
4 Thoomani Maadathu (Sessions from the Space) – Agam
5 Kanha Re (Single) – Neeti Mohan, Dipesh Varma
Best of 2018 – Other Language Films
1 hopelessly yours (Humans of Someone – English) – Neha & Yakzan|Neha Nair|Nitin Nath
2 sound of memory (Humans of Someone – English) – Achyuth Jaigopal|Shaktisree Gopalan|Nitin Nath
3 Sada Nannu (Mahanati – Telugu) – Mickey J Meyer|Charulatha Mani|Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry
4 Mooga Manasulu (Mahanati – Telugu) – Mickey J Meyer|Shreya Ghoshal, Anurag Kulkarni|Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry
5 Samayama (Anthariksham 9000 KMPH – Telugu) – Prashanth R Vihari|Harini, Yazin Nizar|Ananth Sriram
6 Palukave (Anthariksham 9000 KMPH – Telugu) – Prashanth R Vihari|Anurag Kulkarni|Ananth Sriram
7 Oh My Lovely (Padi Padi Leche Manasu – Telugu) – Vishal Chandrasekhar|Sinduri Vishal|Krishna Kanth
8 Hrudhayam (Padi Padi Peche Manasu – Telugu) – Vishal Chandrasekhar|Yazin Nizar|Krishna Kanth
9 Inkem Inkem (Geetha Govindam – Telugu) – Gopi Sunder|Sid Sriram|Ananth Sriram
10 Pilla Raa (RX100 – Telugu) – Chaitan Bharadwaj|Anurag Kulkarni|Chaitanya Prasad
11 Iraga Iraga (Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India – Telugu) – Vishal Shekhar|Rahul Sipligunj, Mohana Bhogaraju|Ramajogayya Shastry
12 Rangamma Mangamma (Rangasthalam – Telugu) – Devi Sri Prasad|MM Manasi|Chandrabose
13 Bhavalokada (Nathicharami – Kannada) – Bindhu Malini|Bindhu Malini & Sanchari Vijay|Kiran Kaverappa
14 Vasundhare (Nathicharami – Kannada) – Bindhu Malini|Bindhu Malini|Kiran Kaverappa
15 Badukina Bannave (Tagaru – Kannada) – Charanraj|Siddhartha Belmannu|Jayanth Kaikini
16 Yaare Neenu (Tagaru – Kannada) – Charanraj|Varijasree Venugopal|Jayanth Kaikini
17 Balma (Tagaru – Kannada) – Charanraj|Charanraj, Siddhartha Belmannu|Jayanth Kaikini
18 Bhoomi Baana (Katheyondu Shuruvagide – Kannada) – Sachin Warrier|Sachin Warrier|Kiran Kaverappa
19 Dheemtha (Katheyondu Shuruvagide – Kannada) – Sachin Warrier|Deepak Doddera, Sangeetha Ravindranath|Kiran Kaverappa
20 Dadda Song (Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu – Kannada) – Vasuki Vaibhav|Vasuki Vaibhav|Trilok Trivikrama
21 Ardha Chandra (8MM Bullet – Kannada) – Judah Sandhy|Supriya Lohith, Abhinandan Mahishale|Ghouse Peer
22 Maathaado Taareya (Ambi Ning Vayassaytho – Kannada) – Arjun Janya|Gummineni Vijay Babu|Dr. V Nagendra Prasad
23 Jau De Na Va (Naal – Marathi) – AV Prafullachandra|Jayas Kumar|AV Prafullachandra
24 Hey Darvayta (Naal – Marathi) – Advait Nemlekar|Ankita Joshi, Aanandi Joshi|Vaibhav Deshmukh
25 Bindhast Houn (Mauli – Marathi) – Ajay Atul|Shreya Ghoshal & Karthik|Guru Thakur
26 Haluwara (Majha Agadbam – Marathi) – T Satiish Chakravarthy|Shreya Ghoshal|Mangesh Kangane
27 Saye (Youngraad – Marathi) – Hriday Gattani|Hriday Gattani, Shashaa Tirupati|Kshitij Patwardhan
28 Dis Yeti (Nude – Marathi) – Cyli Khare|Cyli Khare|Cyli Khare
29 Chumbak (Chumbak – Marathi) – Amar Mangrulkar|Divya Kumar|Vibhavari Deshpande
30 Konte Naatey (Aamhi Doghi – Marathi) – Mangesh Dhakade|Vaishali Mhade|Guru Thaakur
Best of 2018 – Instrumental songs in film
1 October Theme (October) – Shantanu Moitra
2 Andhadhun Theme 1 (Andhadhun) – Amit Trivedi
3 Andhadhun Theme 2 (Andhadhun) – Amit Trivedi
4 Naina’s Theme (Hichki) – Jasleen Royal
5 The Greed Manifests (Tumbbad) – Jesper Kyd
6 Descending (Tumbbad) – Jesper Kyd
7 Beyond The Clouds (Beyond The Clouds) – A R Rahman
8 Son of Mumbai (Beyond The Clouds) – A R Rahman
9 Thanjavur (96) – Govind Vasantha
10 Climax (96) – Govind Vasantha
11 Isai (Seethakaathi) – Govind Vasantha
12 The Journey of Ayya (Seethakaathi) – Govind Vasantha
13 Footsteps (Savarakathi) – Arrol Correlli
14 Vada Chennai Theme (Vada Chennai) – Santhosh Narayanan
15 Winds of the Darkest Hour (Iravukku Aayiram Kangal) – Sam CS
16 fresh lime blues (Humtans of Someone) – Johnson, Govind Vasantha
17 same sea, another season (Humans of Someone) – Ilaiyaraja, Govind Vasantha
18 Priya and Abin’s Love Theme (Varathan) – Sushin Shyam
19 Title – Sit Back and Relax (Varathan) – Sushin Shyam
20 Ratsasan piano theme (Ratsasan) – Ghibran
