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:

Vintunnava by Shreya Ghosal

I want to make a mention about the song 'Vintunnava' from the movie 'Ye Maaya Chesavo' (Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya in Tamil). I never really bothered to listen to it in Tamil (since the Tamil album was out first). Actually not in Telugu too until I had to listen to the whole song once and I did not have an opportunity to skip the song in winamp ( I was cooking some complicated stuff, couldn't deviate in between :P).


So, once I heard the complete song, I really liked it. Shreya Ghosal's rendering is just too perfect in it. Karthik's vocals complemented hers very well in Telugu. He should have sung in Tamil too. I am not a very big fan of AR Rahman's vocals. To me it sounds good in only few songs ( like in Newyork Nagaram, Khwaja Mere Khwaja ..and few more..can't remember them all now..) Anyway, so this is one song which is on my winamp these days. My dear ARR fans out there, do listen to it if you still haven't (which is highly improbable :) )

You can listen to the Telugu version here : Vintunnava

and to the Tamil version here : Mannipaya

Unnale Unnale

Sometimes while listening to a song, which we might have already heard umpteen number of times, we might still find something nice in it which makes us like it even better.I just heard the title song of Unnale Unnale and a line in specific caught my attention this time.The line 'seri endru theriyaamal thavaru endru puriyaamal' sung by Harini was really good.I must have heard this song over 100 times,but it never bores me. The composer, Harris Jeyraj mostly doesn't disappoint his listeners. He has at least one good number in each of his films. And when it comes to giving a soundtrack to Jeeva, he never fails.


Karthik and Harini's vocals totally reflect the mood of this song. The hero and heroine express their joy of being in love and the singers captured it perfectly. The song starts off with Krishh singing a small part which repeats many times in the next 4.43 minutes.The orchestration is amazing in the song,all credit to Harris.Karthik as usual soothes the listeners with his mesmerizing voice right from the start and Harini joins him in the second stanza.She is fabulous!

Oh yeah, I should ask the listeners of this song to concentrate on harini's voice from 3.30 to 3.39 especially when she sings these words - vinnale chendrene. She is amazing and it surprises me as to how little gamakas can enhance the beauty of a song.The song is as beautiful in telugu as it is in tamil. But I'm too lazy to write down the lyrics in telugu right now. I am posting the tamil lyrics while keeping my favorite lines in bold. The translation can be found colored and in brackets. I’m not a tamil speaking gal but I tried my best to get the lyrics right. Please feel free to make any corrections.

Krish Sings:
mudhal mudhalaaga mudhal mudhalaaga ,paravasamaaga paravasamaaga
vaa vaa vaa anbae..
(For the first time I'm excited, I’m happy. Come on my dear)
Oh Ho..
thani thaniyaaga thanan thaniyaaga ilavasamaaga ivan vasamaaga
vaa vaa vaa anbae..
(Come alone to become a part of me. Come on my dear)

Pallavi:

unnaalae unnaalae viNaaLach chendraenae
(Because of you I'm on cloud nine) 
un munnae un munnae mei kaaNa nindraenae
(When I stand in front of you,I'm hypnotized)
oru sottu kadalum nee, oru pottu vaanum nee, oru puLLi puyalum nee
(You are a drop of ocean, tip of the sky,You are a pinch of cyclone)
brahmiththaen
(I am astonished)
oLi veesum iravum nee, uyir kaetkkum amudham nee, imai moodum vizhiyum nee
(You are a light in the night,You are the divine potion which makes me immortal,you're my eyelid) yaasiththaen..
(I crave for you)

[mudhal mudhalaaga..]

Charanam 1:
oru paarvaiyin neeLaththai,oru vaarththaiyin aazhaththai
( your sharp looks, the depth in your words)
thaangaamal veezhndhaenae
(I was helpless,I fell for them)
thoongaamal vaazhndhaenae
(I lost my sleep/I'm able to live without sleep)
nadhi meedhu sarugaippOl, un paadhai varugindraen
(I'm following you like a leaf on the river)
karai thaettri viduvaayO,gathimOtcham tharuvaayO
(Will you take me to the shore?Will you fulfill my desire?)
moththamaai moththamaai naan maari pOnaenae
(I've changed completely)
suththamaai suththamaai thooL thooLaai aanaenae
(I'm totally broken into pieces)

[mudhal mudhalaaga..]
unnaalae unnaalae,viNaaLach chendraenae
un munnae un munnae,mei kaaNa nindraenae

it's very fast love grows.people in the pulls listen down !
its' love graph..yO !let's peep in & call in..

Charanam 2:
nee enbadhu mazhaiyaaga,naan enbahu veyyilaaga
(You are the rain,I'm the sunshine)
mazhaiyOdu veyyil searum,andha vaanilai sugamaagum
(When rain and sunshine come together,the weather becomes pleasant)
seri endru theriyaamal thavaru endru puriyaamal
(I don't know if it's right,I can't understand why it's wrong) 
edhu vandhu saerndhaen naan,edhirpaarkkavillai naan
(I don't know what has brought me to this stage,I did not expect this)
en vasam en vasam irandadukku aagaayam
(Now there are two skies for me)
irandilum pOgudhae en kaadhal kaarmaegam
(In both, the clouds of love are passing by)

papap..pa..pa...ppa.pa
unnaalae unnaalae viNaaLach chendraenae
(Because of you I'm on cloud nine) 
un munnae un munnae mei kaaNa nindraenae
(When I stand in front of you,I'm hypnotized)

You can download the song here - Unnale Unnale(tamil), Nee valle Nee valle(telugu)
If you like this song,feel free to put in your thoughts too :)