The decade comes to an end in a few hours – in fact, it might have ended already in the some parts, by the time you read this post. It has been an eventful decade in every regard, equally so in music. I have written a bit on some of the key musical trends in Bollywood from a composer angle, here. This post, however, is not about the decade of course (I did have lofty ambitions of doing a decade list, but don’t think that is happening now), it is my annual ritual of looking at the year’s music and picking my favourites, now for the 11th time. The trends have continued pretty much as they did the past 2-3 years. Bollywood continued to disappoint, by and large, despite two incredible soundtracks in the first quarter, and Malayalam and Tamil – the two other industries that I keenly follow – continued to tick along with some more talented debutants joining the fold.
The roundups follow my usual format – I go by movie release dates (album release date for the indie/pop list), and this year it is back to my usual set of lists: Bollywood, Malayalam, Tamil, Indian Indie/Pop and a miscellaneous list covering the movie songs from other languages I have managed to catch up on during the year. Playlists have been created on Youtube and Apple Music, complete to the extent of availability on the platforms.
Hope you enjoy the playlists. Wish you all a wonderful new year and a new decade!
Artwork, as usual, by the awesome @cookydoh!
Best of 2019 – Bollywood
1 Apna Time Aayega (Gully Boy) – Dub Sharma, DIVINE|DIVINE, Ankur Tewari|Ranveer Singh, DIVINE
2 Rappan Rappi (Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota) – Karan Kulkarni|Garima Obrah|Benny Dayal
3 Kalank (Kalank) – Pritam|Amitabh Bhattacharya|Arijit Singh
4 Naad Khula (Malaal ) – Shreyas Puranik|Prashant Ingole|Shreyas Puranik
5 Rajaji (Manikarnika) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Prasoon Joshi|Pratibha Singh Baghel, Ravi Mishra
6 Dil Uda Patanga (Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas) – Sachet-Parampara|Siddharth-Garima|Parampara Thakur, Sachet Tandon
7 Zindagi (The Sky is Pink) – Pritam|Gulzar|Arijit Singh
8 Aaj Jaage Rehna (Motichoor Chaknachoor ) – Siddhart Amit Bhavsar|Siddhart Amit BhavsarHimani Kapoor, Siddharth Amit Bhavsar
9 Tere Liye (Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota) – Karan Kulkarni|Santanu Ghatak|Kamakshi Rai, Vishal Mishra, Karan Kulkarni
10 Doori (Gully Boy) – Rishi Rich|Javed Akhtar, DIVINE|Ranveer Singh
11 Sanu Kehndi (Kesari) – Tanishk Bagchi|Kumaar|Romy, Brijesh Shandilya
12 Yeh Aaina (Kabir Singh) – Amaal Mallik|Irshad Kamil|Shreya Ghoshal
13 Jugraafiya (Super 30) – Ajay Atul|Amitabh Bhattacharya|Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal
14 Ghungroo (War) – Vishal Shekhar|Kumaar|Arijit Singh, Shilpa Rao
15 Udta Teetar (Saand Ki Aankh) – Vishal Mishra|Raj Shekhar|Sunidhi Chauhan, Jyoti Nooran
16 Behe Chala (Uri) – Shashwat Sachdev|Raj Shekhar|Yasser Desai, Shashwat Sachdev
17 Tak Taki (Manikarnika) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Prasoon Joshi|Pratibha Singh Baghel
18 Ruan Ruan (Sonchiriya) – Vishal Bhardwaj|Gulzar|Arijit Singh
19 Azadi (Gully Boy) – Dub Sharma, DIVINE |Dub Sharma, DIVINE|Dub Sharma, DIVINE
20 Kanha Re Kanha (Mere Pyare Prime Minister) – Shankar Ehsaan Loy|Gulzar|Rekha Bhardwaj
21 Main Udi (Gone Kesh) – Bharat-Hitarth|Bharat Menaria|Yashita Sharma
22 Bheege Mann (Khandaani Shafakhana) – Rochak Kohli|Gautam G Sharma, Gurpreet Saini|Altamash Faridi
23 Life Mein Fair Chance (Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota) – Karan Kulkarni|Garima Obrah|Suresh Triveni, Surya Ragunaathan, Veera Fauzia Saxena
24 Dil Hi Toh Hai (The Sky is Pink) – Pritam|Gulzar|Arijit Singh, Antara Mitra
25 Bairagi Mann (Paharganj) – Ajay Singha|Shellee|Romy
Honorary Mentions
26 Chale Aana (De De Pyaar De) – Amaal Mallik|Kunaal Vermaa|Armaan Malik
27 Kis Rasta (Judgementall Hai Kya) – Arjuna Harjai|Kumaar|Surabhi Dashputra, Arjuna Harjai
28 Valam (Made in China) – Sachin-Jigar|Priya Saraiya|Arijit Singh, Priya Saraiya, Sachin-Jigar
29 Aasmaa (Saand Ki Aankh) – Vishal Mishra|Raj Shekhar|Asha Bhosle
30 Khairiyat (Chhichhore) – Pritam|Amitabh Bhattacharya|Arijit Singh
Best of 2019 – Malayalam
1 Cherathukal (Kumbalangi Nights) – Sushin Shyam|Anwar Ali|Sithara Krishnakumar
2 Aaraadhike (Ambili) – Vishnu Vijay|Vinayak Sasikumar|Sooraj Santhosh, Madhuvanti Narayanan
3 Nee Vasanthakaalam (Chola) – Basil Joseph|Basil Joseph|Harish Sivaramakrishnan, Sithara Krishnakumar
4 Shilayude (Android Kunjappan v5.25) – Bijibal|BK Harinarayanan|Vipin Lal
5 Ponveyilin (Puzhikkadakan) – Ranjith Meleppatt|Rafeeq Ahammed|Anne Amie, Vijay Yesudas
6 Ore Kannal (Luca) – Sooraj S Kurup|Shabareesh Varma|Nandagopan, Anju Joseph, Neethu Naduvathettu, Sooraj S Kurup
7 Kayale (Thottappan) – Leela Girish Kuttan|Ajeesh Dasan|Sithara Krishnakumar
8 Uyiril Thodum (Kumbalangi Nights) – Sushin Shyam|Anwar Ali|Anne Amie, Sooraj Santhosh
9 Aadyam Thammil (June) – Ifthi|Vinayak Sasikumar|Anne Amie, Sooraj Santhosh
10 Kunneri Parannu (Vaarthakal Ithuvare) – Mejjo Joseph|Sarath Vayalar|Madhu Balakrishnan
11 Nee Mukilo (Uyare) – Gopi Sunder|Rafeeq Ahammed|Sithara Krishnakumar, Vijay Yesudas
12 Kavarathi (Pranaya Meenukalude Kadal) – Shaan Rahman|BK Harinarayanan|Lakshmi S Nair, Anjali Anand
13 Akale (Manoharam) – Sanjeev T|Joe Paul|Sid Sriram
14 Pularippoo (Sathyam Paranjaa Vishwasikkuvo) – Shaan Rahman|BK Harinarayanan|Sithara Krishnakumar
15 Raaro Raaro (Maamaankam) – M Jayachandran|Ajay Gopal|Bombay Jayashree
16 Jaathikkaathottam (Thanneermathan Dinangal) – Justin Varghese|Suhail Koya|Sowmya Ramakrishnan, Devadutt Bijibal
17 Parayuvaan (Ishq) – Jakes Bejoy|Joe Paul|Sid Sriram, Neha Nair
18 Manjukaalam (Finals) – Kailas Menon|Girish Puthencherry|Srinivas
19 Paravakalini (Underworld) – Neha Nair, Yakzan Gary Pereira|Sam Mathew|Sooraj Santhosh, Neha Nair
20 Neeyilla Neram (Luca) – Sooraj S Kurup|Shabareesh Varma|Sooraj S Kurup
21 Kunkumanira (Neeyum Njaanum) – Vinu Thomas|BK Harinarayanan|Shreya Ghoshal
22 Kaayalolam (Oru Kaattil Oru Paayakkappal) – Bijibal|Santhosh Varma|Bijibal, Anne Amie
23 Arutharuthu (41) – Bijibal|Rafeeq Ahammed|Vijesh Gopal
24 Onnum Mindaathe (Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel) – Gopi Sunder|BK Harinarayanan|Shashaa Tirupathi
25 Nee Himamazhayayi (Edakkad Battalion 06) – Kailas Menon|BK Harinarayanan|Harishankar K S, Nithya Mammen
Honorary Mentions
26 Kaanumbol (Thamaasha) – Rex Vijayan|Muhsin Parari|Asha Jeevan
27 Pavizha Mazha (Athiran) – PS Jayhari|Vinayak Sasikumar|Harishankar K S
28 Ennadi Kalyani (Janaadhipan) – Mejjo Joseph|Anil Panachooraan|Vineeth Sreenivasan, Anne Amie
29 Chemmanam (Valiyaperunnal) – Rex Vijayan|Saju Sreenivas|Saju Sreenivas
30 Kudukku (Love Action Drama) – Shaan Rahman|Manu Manjith|Vineeth Sreenivasan
Best of 2019 – Tamil
1 Maruvaarthai (Enai Noki Paayum Thotta) – Darbuka Siva|Thamarai|Sid Sriram
2 Varalaama (Sarvam Thaala Mayam) – Rajeev Menon, A R Rahman|Madhan Karky|Sriram Parthasarathy
3 Kulirudha Pulla (Otha Seruppu) – Santhosh Narayanan|Vivek|Sid Sriram, Sangeetha Karuppiah
4 Mazhai (Kaalidas) – Vishal Chandrasekhar |Thamarai|Sudha Raghunathan
5 Vaa Vaa Penne (Uriyadi 2) – Govind Vasantha|Vijay Kumar, Nagaraji|Sid Sriram, Priyanka
6 Kodi Aruvi (Mehandi Circus) – Sean Roldan|Yugabharathi|Pradeep Kumar, Nithyashree
7 Anthimaalai Neram (Monster) – Justin Prabhakaran|Karthik Netha|Sid Sriram
8 Oru Naal (Aadai) – Marti Bharath|Marti Bharath|Pradeep Kumar, Marti Bharath
9 Maathare (Bigil) – A R Rahman|Vivek|Chinmayi Sripaada, Madhura Dhara Thalluri, Vithusayini, Akshara, Sireesha, A.R. Rahman
10 Neeyagave (House Owner) – Ghibran|Anu|Chinmayi Sripaada, Sathyaprakash D
11 Maavuliyo Maavuli (Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu) – Tenma|Thanikodi|Tenma, Shweta Mohan
12 Aalankuruvigalaa (Bakrid) – D Imman|ManiAmuthavan|Sid Sriram
13 Merkilae (July Kaatril) – Joshua Sridhar|Na. Muthukumar|Sathyaprakash D
14 Kaariga (Airaa) – Sundaramurthy KS|Madhan Karky|Sid Sriram
15 Anbe Anbin (Peranbu) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Sumathi Ram|Karthik
16 Maya Maya (Sarvam Thaala Mayam) – A R Rahman|Na. Muthukumar|Chinmayi Sripaada
17 Visiri (Enai Noki Paayum Thotta) – Darbuka Siva|Thamarai|Sid Sriram, Shashaa Tirupati
18 Yendi Rasathi (Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum) – Sam CS|Sam CS|Sathya Prakash D, Roshni
19 Veyil Mazhaye (Mehandi Circus) – Sean Roldan|Saravanan Rajendran|Vignesh Ishwar, Susha
20 Ullalla (Petta) – Anirudh Ravichander|Vivek|Nakash Aziz, Inno Genga
21 Mailaanji (Namma Veetu Pillai) – D Imman|Yugabharathi|Pradeep Kumar, Shreya Ghoshal
22 Yen Minukki (Asuran) – G V Prakash Kumar|Eknath|Teejay Arunasalam, Chinmayi Sripaada
23 Thalaimurai (Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu) – Tenma|Arivu|Shakthishree Gopalan, Chinna Ponnu
24 Meraki Nenjam (Kaalidas) – Vishal Chandrasekhar|Niranjan Bharathi|Sharanya Gopinath
25 Idhu Varai Naan (Zhagaram) – Dharan|Kabilan|Haricharan, Shweta Mohan
Honorary Mentions
26 Gaandakkannazhagi (Namma Veetu Pillai) – D Imman|Sivakarthikeyan|Anirudh Ravichander, Neeti Mohan
27 Onnumilla (Aadai) – Oorka|Bharath Sankar, Siva|Bharath Sankar
28 Thirudaadhe (Enai Noki Paayum Thotta) – Darbuka Siva|Thamarai|Jonita Gandhi, Karthik, Darbuka Siva, ADK (RAP Machines)
29 Mayilanjiye (Sivappu Manjal Pachai) – Siddhu Kumar|Dhamayanthi|Anand Aravindakshan, Shashaa Tirupati
30 Anbae Peranbae (NGK) – Yuvan Shankar Raja|Uma Devi|Sid Sriram, Shreya Ghoshal
Best of 2019 – Indian Indie/Pop
1 Kalliyankaattu Neeli (Namah) – Thaikkudam Bridge, feat. Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
2 May I? (Chango Tales) – Jatayu, feat Krond-Flast
3 Mughlan – Bipul Chhetri
4 Soye Ja (Kun) – Parvaaz
5 Leaders of Men – Thermal And A Quarter
6 Maaravairi Ramani – GrooviDa
7 Kohinoor (Kohinoor) – Divine
8 Jangal (Jangal) – Soumik Datta
9 Naachne Ka Shaunq – Raftaar, Brodha V
10 Beneath the Fireworks (My Place To You) – Easy Wanderlings
11 Odi Odi (Kimaya) – Masala Coffee
12 Naina – Strings, Sona Mohapatra
13 Hop Stomp – When Chai Met Toast
14 Nee (Namah) – Thaikkudam Bridge, feat. Niladri Kumar)
15 Sir Dravid (The Revisit Project) – Brown Man’s Funk, feat. Chezin
16 Simrayo (Joro) – Gauley Bhai
17 Waiting (Unfinished) – Gandhaar
18 Ente Kaalam – Thirumali
19 Floated By (Bismillah) – Peter Cat Recording Co.
20 Dilruba – Aki Kumar
21 Jazbaa (Bedesi) – Sharma and the Besharams
22 Fly (Unreserved) – Praveen Sparsh
23 Dasht-ba-Dasht (Kun) – Parvaaz
24 Vainko – Brodha V
25 No More Running (Dee=MC^2) – Dee MC, feat. Poetic Justice
Honorary Mentions
26 Sitaare – Nikhil D’Souza
27 Ragi Tandira (Vasu Dixit) – Vasu Dixit
28 Kanne (Namah) – Thaikkudam Bridge, feat. Anandraj Benjamin Paul
29 Abhisshttu – Sanjeev T, feat. King Jassim and Vasudha Ravi
30 Sage – Ritviz
Best of 2019 – Other Languge Films
Gira Gira (Dear Comrade – Telugu) – Justin Prabhakaran|Rehman|Gowtham Bharadwaj, Yamini Ghantasala
Nee Neeli (Dear Comrade – Telugu) – Justin Prabhakaran|Rehman|Gowtham Bharadwaj
Kadalalle (Dear Comrade – Telugu) – Justin Prabhakaran|Rehman|Sid Sriram, Aishwarya Ravichandran
Evaro Evaro (Ranarangam – Telugu) – Prashant Pillai|Krishna Chaitanya, Ramajogayya Shastry|Preeti Pillai
Seetha Kalyanam (Ranarangam – Telugu) – Prashant Pillai|Balaji|Sreehari K
Pilla Picture Perfect (Ranarangam – Telugu) – Sunny MR|Krishna Chaitanya|Nikhita Gandhi
Vagalaadi (Brochevarevarura – Telugu) – Vivek Sagar|Hasith Goli|Vivek Sagar, Balaji Dake, Ram Miriyala and Manisha Erabathini
Doragari (Brochevarevarura – Telugu) – Vivek Sagar|Bharadwaj|Vivek Sagar
Vaale Chinukule (Brochevarevarura – Telugu) – Vivek Sagar|Hasith Goli|Sooraj Santhosh
Paye Paye (Falaknuma Das – Telugu) – Vivek Sagar|Suddala Ashok Teja|Rahul Siplijung, Shiva Nagulu
Dasu Bindasu (Falaknuma Das – Telugu) – Vivek Sagar|Bhaskarbhatla Ravikumar|Kailash Kher
Antam Ankitam (Sye Raa – Telugu) – Amit Trivedi|Anantha Sriram|Vijay Prakash, Shashaa Tirupathi
Jaago (Sye Raa – Telugu) – Amit Trivedi|Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry|Shankar Mahadevan, Haricharan, Anurag Kulkarni
Mella Mellagaa (ABCD – Telugu) – Judah Sandhy|Krishna Kanth|Sid Sriram|Aditi Bhavaraju
Padhe Padhe (Jersey – Telugu) – Anirudh Ravichander|Krishna Kanth, Brodha V|Anirudh Ravichander, Shakthisree Gopalan, Brodha V
Ranga Maliyela (Anandi Gopal – Marathi) – Hrishikesh, Saurabh & Jasraj|Vaibhav Joshi|Ketaki Mategaonkar, Sharayu Date
Anand Ghana (Anandi Gopal – Marathi) – Hrishikesh, Saurabh & Jasraj|Vaibhav Joshi|Aanandi Joshi, Hrishikesh Ranade
Tu Ahes Na (Anandi Gopal – Marathi) – Hrishikesh, Saurabh & Jasraj|Vaibhav Joshi|Jasraj Joshi, Avadhoot Gupte, Rahul Deshpande, Adarsh Shinde, Rohit Raut
Lagliya (Kaagar – Marathi) – AV Prafullachandra|AV Prafullachandra|Shashaa Tirupathi, Harshavardhan Wavare
Darval (Kaagar – Marathi) – AV Prafullachandra|Vaibhav Deshmukh|Kavita Raam, Vivek Naik, Rahul Chitnis, Santosh Bote
Virala (Khichik – Marathi) – Abhishek – Datta|Datta Gunjal|Savani Kulkarni
Tula Japnar Ahe (Khari Biscuit – Marathi) – Amitraj|Kshitij Patwardhan|Adarsh Shinde, Ronkini Gupta
Khari (Khari Biscuit – Marathi) – Suraj-Dhiraj|Kshitij Patwardhan|Kunal Ganjawala
Manase Maya (Mundina Nildana – Kannada) – Masala Coffee|Kiran Kaverappa|Masala Coffee
Swagatam Krishna (Gubbi Mele Brahmastra – Kannada) – Manikanth Kadri|Ootukkaadu Venkatasubba Iyer & Sujay Shastry|Mythri Iyer
Neelakasha Kelu (Sarvajanikarige Suvarnavakaasha – Kannada) – Midhun Mukundan|Anoop Ramaswamy Kashyap|Haricharan, Rakshitha Rao
Adharam Madhuram (Ranganayaki Vol 1 Virginity – Kannada) – Manikanth Kadri|Vallabhaachaarya|Shwetha Prabhu, Shashank Sheshagiri
Anisuthidhe (99 – Kannada) – Arjun Janya|Kaviraj|Sanjith Hegde, Shreya Ghoshal
Gamyave (99 – Kannada) – Arjun Janya|Kaviraj|Armaan Malik
Haiyaa (Hellaro – Gujarati) – Mehul Surti|Saumya Joshi|Shruti Pathak
