Songs of 2014

Like last year, here are the best songs I listened to this year - 2014. Sadly, I didn't get to listen to much Hindi, Tamil or Malayalam music, so the list mostly contains Telugu songs :)

Do check out Milliblog's excellent Annual Music Roundup 2014 by Karthik for a much more comprehensive list spanning all languages.

Telugu

Thirugubaatidhi, Prateekshanam - Basanti (Mani Sharma)

Mani Sharma hardly makes music these days and when he does, it's for trashy masala films. When he gets good scripts, he makes refreshing albums, like this one. I liked Thirugubatidhi for its booming bass line and an easy tune, and I loved Prateekshanam. A beautiful and intricate tune, great singing by Dinker and Chaitra but above all, outstanding lyrics by Srimani.

Kanulanu Thaake, Idi Prema - Manam (Anoop Rubens)

Anoop's music in Manam was a revelation. This is by far his best album and his music greatly helped the film. Kanulanu Thaake has a flowing tune, great singing by Arijit Singh and catchy chorus. It's easy to like this one, but I fell in love with the other song, Idi Prema by Master Bharath, after watching the film. The lyrics by Chandrabose beautifully sum up the story and Anoop sets them to a haunting tune.

Sweety, Cinema Choopista, Gala Gala, Down Down, Boochaade - Race Gurram (Thaman)

This is Thaman's best work in recent times and I liked all the songs. Check out the hip Sweety and the foot-tapping Cinema Choopista.

Edo, Aa Seetadevi, Enta Varu - Rowdy Fellow (Sunny MR and Anil R)

Trendy music by Sunny, continuing where he left off from Swami Ra Ra. Aa Seetadevi has a great chorus accentuated by Sunny's familiar Jazz-Rock sound, and Arijit nails the song (what a great year or two he's been having!). Yedo by the late Anil R (check out his LBW) is my pick of the album. Beautifuly melody - it haunts.

Teeyaga Teeyaga, Telisi Teliyandila - Ulavacharu Biryani (Ilayaraja)

Vintage Ilayaraja. Sweet tunes and that trademark orchestration.

Chakkiliginthe, Mayo Mayo - Chakkiligintha (Mickey J Meyer)

Mayo Mayo is your typical catchy club song and Chakkiliginthe is a nice melody with some good singing by Haricharan.

Bujjima, Shanti Om - Run Raja Run (Ghibran)

Bujjima is extremely foot-tapping thanks to Gold Devaraj's singing and Ghibran's arrangements. Shanti Om Shanti is a neat dubstep/club song. Also check out Vaddantune from the album.

Gulabi Kallu, Prati Chota - Govindudu Andari Vaadele (Yuvan Shankar Raja)

Yuvan usually does terrific work when he does Telugu albums (sample Happy, Oy) so this one was not upto his standards. However, a few songs stand out. Gulabi is a kickass dubstep melody (take that!) and Prati Chota is an ode to 90s' Chiru intro songs.

Shwaase Nuvve - Maine Pyaar Kiya (V Pradeep Kumar)

For his second film after Billa Ranga (which had terrific music - check out last year's review), director Pradeep Madugula hires V Pradeep Kumar (who sang a song or two in Billa Ranga), and he does great work here. Check out Shwaase Nuvve, a stunningly good melody.

Em Sandeham Ledu - Oohalu Gusagusalade (Kalyani Koduri)

Kalyani Malik dropped his middle name last year and it seems to be working well for him :) After good music in last year's AMAT (check out Gammattuga Unnadi), he comes up with another melodious album this year. My pick of the album is Em Sandeham Ledu - a supremely crafted melody. And to top it off, he does a great job singing it, ably helped by Sunitha.

Other songs that I liked:

Chakri:

You're My Love from Tanu Monne Vellipoyindi

Navvamma Thalli from Erra Bus

Rahman Geethamla from Dhee ante Dhee

Thaman:

Raakasi Raakasi from Rabhasa

Naari Naari and Bhel Puri from Aagadu

Badmash Pilla and Notanki from Power

Devi Sri Prasad:

Aw Tujho, Sayonara, You're My Love from 1 - Nenokkadine

Tanjavuru from Legend

Neeli Neeli and Whats Up Antu from Alludu Seenu

Mickey J Meyer: Daredum and Chala Bagundi from Mukunda

Keeravani: Kshanam Kshanam from Anamika

Anoop Rubens: Aayudham and Sura Sura from Auto Nagar Surya (though Sura is a total ripoff)

JB: Osi Prema Rakshasi from Kotta Janta

Rahul Raj: Merise Merise from Paathashaala

Achu: Ra Ra Krishnayya from Ra Ra Krishnayya

Tamil

• Ennodu Nee Irundhaal, Meriselayitten, Aila Aila - I (A. R. Rahman)
• Kannikkul Pothivaippen - Thirumanam Enum Nikkah (Ghibran)
• Mona Gasolina, Oh Nanba - Lingaa (A. R. Rahman)
• Kannamma - Jigarthanda (Santhosh Narayanan)
• Move Your Body - Vai Raja Vai (Yuvan Shankar Raja)
• Enai Marubadi - Nanbenda (Harris Jayaraj)
• Koottali Koottali - Aaha Kalyanam (Dharan)

Hindi

Ala Hada, Beqasoor, Khalifa - Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (A. R. Rahman)

This one from ARR is severely underrated, and went unnoticed with the failure of the film. Check out the punchy Khalifa and the dulcet Ala Hada and Beqasoor.

Maahi Ve, Pathaka Guddi - Highway (A. R. Rahman)

O Gujariya - Queen (Amit Trivedi)

Kabhi Ruhani - Raja Natwarlal (Yuvan Shankar Raja)

Bang Bang - Bang Bang (Vishal Shekhar)

Manali Trance - The Shaukeens (Yo Yo Honey Singh)

Baby Doll - Ragini MMS 2 (Yo Yo Honey Singh)

Malayalam

Ee Mizhikalin, Payye Payye, Chayunnuvo, Aaromale - Ormayundo Ee Mukham (Shaan Rahman)

Please chip in with the songs you liked that I missed, and the ones that I put in that you thought weren't so great. Looking forward to a great 2015!

Songs of 2013

Here are the best Telugu, Tamil and Hindi songs I listened to in 2013, in no particular order. I listened to a lot of Telugu songs, some Tamil and Hindi ones. Compiling this list was easy - I looked at my top-rated songs of the year in iTunes, sorted them by play count and picked the best ones.

Telugu

Ee Kshanam, Enno Nava Ragaale, Pilla Bagundi - KISS - (Sricharan Pakala and Pete Wonder)

Trippy tunes from first-time composer Sricharan. Ee Kshanam reminded me of the Edward Maya hit 'Stereo Love' (our composers are just as good as European DJs!). Watch out for the singer Ravikanth Perepu. Top-notch stuff.

Maarinade, Konchem Konchem, Katuka Kannula, Kadhal Prema - Alias Janaki (Shravan)

Fell in love with the songs after a couple of listens. Very very addictive hooks and good singing. Super stuff from Shravan. Album of the year for me.

Sammathame, Gundu Soodi, Tulle Tulle - Prema Ishq Kaadhal (Shravan)

Just who is this Shravan? Have seen no interviews or videos of his.. Does a great job again. Very listenable Mickey-J-Meyer style melodies.

Speaking of Mickey..

Seetamma Vaakitlo, Inka Cheppale - Seetamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (Mickey J Meyer)

Why doesn't Mickey get more films? Even after an album like this?

Melam Moge, Come Na Come, Raa Balamani, Oopiri Jenda, Raja Ra - Billa Ranga (Santhosh Narayanan)

The very inventive Santhosh Narayanan comes to Telugu. And delivers. Listen to the dubstep laden Melam Moge or the import from Soodhu Kavvum 'Come Na Come'. Special mention to the funny lyrics. Find the playlist at this link.

Neelaa Evaru, Life Antene - Swamy Rara (Sunny MR)

Violin Song - Iddarammailatho, Idedo Baagunde - Mirchi, Deva Devam - Attarintiki Daaredi 

(Devi Sri Prasad)

Bharatam Pattina Natyam, O Neelaveni - MM Keeravani (Emo Gurram Egaravacchu)

Gammattuga Unnadi - Antaku Mundhu Aa Taruvata (Kalyani Koduri)

Yemo Nemo - Bangaru Kodi Petta (Mahesh Shankar)

Tholi Merupa, Nuvva Nuvva - Varna (Harris Jayaraj)

Thaman had a prolific year, with around 15 albums in Telugu and Tamil. Apart from my picks listed below, I liked his tribute to Rahman's Oorvasi (Pandaga Chesko - Ramayya Vastavayya) and Ilayaraja's Jagada Jagada (Padipoyanila - Balupu).

Allah Allah and Lashkar Pori (Jabardasth)

Katthi Lanti Pilla, Hey Naayak (Naayak)

Diamond Girl (Baadshah) - ordinary tune and lyrics, but Thaman shows off his programming/arranging and mixing skills. Listen to the song on a good stereo system and be impressed!

Tamil

Adiye, Moongil Thottam - Kadal (A. R. Rahman)

Kanave Kanave - David, Oh Penne - Vanakkam Chennai (Anirudh Ravichander)

Aaja Aaja - Thillu Mullu, Naah Na Naah - Biriyani (Yuvan Shankar Raja)

Enga Pona Raasa - Maryan (A. R. Rahman)

Kannukkul Pothuvaippen - Thirumanam Enum Nikkah (Ghibran)

Hindi

Tu Mun Shudi, Nazar Laaye, Piya Milenge - Raanjhanaa (A. R. Rahman)

Shubhaarambh - Kai Po Che (Amit Trivedi)

Sunn Raha Hai, Tum Hi Ho - Aashiqui 2 (Ankit Tiwari and Mithoon)

Zinda - Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)

Khalbali - 3G (Mithoon)

Mera Mann - Nautanki Saala (Falak Shabir)

Ambarasariya - Fukrey (Ram Sampath)

Titli - Chennai Express (Vishal-Shekhar)

Any other recommendations?

P. S. : Here's a screenshot of the iTunes playlist:

List: Telugu songs that I liked in the past month or so

While there hasn't been any pathbreaking stuff, there have been a few listenable songs. Here's an arbitrary list:

5. Kudirite Kappu Coffee by Yogeshwara Sharma - Srikaram
SPB doesn't sing the song, he just flows, especially during the middle portions (charanaalu?) - while Nihal matches him very ably with his "Dhomtananana" parts.

4. LBW by Anil R - Meghamaa and Teerale Vaddante
Both songs exploit the honeydew-ness of Javed Ali's vocals. The latter, more.

3. Anaganaga Oka Dheerudu by Salim-Sulaiman and others - Chirugaalai and Yodha Theme
Chirugaalai(/Premalekha)'s orchestration sounds very very similar to Salim-Sulaiman's classic O Re Piya from Aaja Nachle but it's a good song in itself, helped by Shreya Ghoshal's and Salim's Siddharth-like vocals.
Yodha Theme is adequately grand and rousing and rest of the songs in the album too deserve a listen or two.

2. Vareva by Mahesh Shankar - Are Idi Asalu and  Ne Talachane Ledu
Benny's techno-friendly voice helps Are Idi asalu sound peppy/catchy.funky, and it's a good thing. Those who like Mahesh's serene melodies (from Vennela and Prayanam) will like Ne Talachane Ledu.

1. Mirapakay by S Thaman - Silakaa and Dhinnaku Dhin
Apart from a catchy tune, Silakaa has enjoyably satirical lyrics about love and PDA (by Bhaskarabhatla).
The faux-classical Dhinnaku Dhin gains from Shankar Mahadevan and Shreya Ghoshal's fluent vocals.

P.S.: Also good were:
- Thee Illai by Naresh Iyer and Lolita by Harish Raghavendra from Harris Jayaraj's Engeyum Kadhal
- Ainvayi by Salim, Sunidhi Chauhan from Band Baaja Baaraat
- A few from No One Killed Jessica by Amit Trivedi and Action Replayy by Pritam