The Majestic Five!

I know its been soooo long since i've updated my blog but kya karen,rukhaavat ke liye vajah to zaroor hai! Anyways I've been contemplating for a long time to write about how musically rich the last five years were.So this is a post that has a list of the most compelling and some absolutely scintillating soundtracks that blew me away in the last five years in Indian Music.You should probably go live under a bridge if you've not heard any of these soundtracks/albums!;)

I know I haven't heard every single soundtrack/album that has released over the past five years,so this is just a list from the ones I've heard(And the list of ones i've heard is quite big!..Hey iam not bragging.Read this blog's masthead!:P)The list is in the order of my preference.

1.Aamir(2008,Hindi,Amit Trivedi):
I had a tough choice to make between Aamir and Pudhupettai for the top spot but finally settled for Aamir.Amit Trivedi's debut is absolutely mind numbing,the soundtrack comprises tracks that bend genres and has few that create new genres.Whether it is the Sufi-tinged Ha Raham or the poignant Ek Lau,this soundtrack is soaked with variety and Amit exposes his creativity big time with his very first soundtrack!Of all the gems,my favourites are Haara and the climax theme.Haara truly heralds a new trend in the indian film music and is breathtaking,while the climax theme is oh-so-appropriate for the movie and takes the already-riveting-climax to a completely different level.This list has some soundtracks that have as many as 10 to 18 songs and yet a 6 song OST makes its way to the top spot..This soundtrack is seriously that amazing!

2.Pudhupettai(2006,Tamil,Yuvan Shankar Raja):
I still remember a week after Pudhupettai released,a leading newspaper had a huge billboard size poster of the film occupying quarter of a page with reviews from various critics and other sites which said stuff like "Music and Background Score of Pudhupettai is a milestone in Tamil film music"..And that really made my day! Yuvan's imagination goes wayyy beyond the confines of a tamil music OST in Selling
Dope,Survival of the fittest and the main theme.The background score is just world class to say the least-One flute piece that comes when Dhanush dances hysterically while fighting a bunch of thugs is a particularly memorable one! My favourites in this soundtrack are Oru Naalil(especially the composer's dream mix) and Neruppu Vaayinil(Roping Kamal Hassan to croon this song is a masterstroke!) while the
orchestration of Pulpesum is completely mindblowing and deserves a special mention! Pudhupettai is a stirring triumph of Yuvan's composing skills and it is very very difficult for the composer to match Pudhupettai's standards in the future..nearly impossible!

3.Dev D(2009,Hindi,Amit Trivedi):
Two Amit Trivedi soundtracks in the top five..wow! Usually an 18 song soundtrack is a recipe for disaster and can lead to a tremendous tedium but Amit gets everything right in Dev D..This soundtrack manages to be spectacularly accessible and addictive even while being true to the films theme..Anurag Kashyap deserves credit for fantastic conceptualisation of the soundtrack.My favorites from this soundtrack are
Saali kushi,Duniya,Pardesi And Aankh Micholi and I have a special soft corner for Paayaliya..don't know why!..This soundtrack released along with Delhi 6 and managed to be a more compelling listen than Delhi 6..that itself is quite an achievement according to me!

4.Delhi 6(2009,Hindi,AR Rahman):
This list is certainly incomplete without a Rahman's soundtrack! Rahman's world music infusion in Masakkali is nothing short of amazing and
he also hits the bulls eye with massy numbers like Kaala Bandar and the super cool title song.The fact that the movie received major drubbing is a killjoy but this film got wide recognition ONLY for it's music..Even among some scorchers like Arziyaan and Masakkali,my favorites are Rehna Tu and Dil Gira Dafatan.While Rehna Tu has a killer tune with Rahman weaving magic in the orchestration,Dil Gira is a
complete goosebump material-it has a gorgeous free flowing tune with mesmerizing backgrounds and only gets better with each listen.This is Rahman at his very best!

5. Om-The Fusion Band(2005,Indipop,Amartya,Sriram and other assorted artists):
I heard this album very late and have been majorly kicking myself for that! This album is a celebration of young talent and is vibrant and completely refreshing.It is very sad that the band dissolved after this album and is even more sad that this album did not receive the recognition it deserved.My favorites from this album are Maula,Tum Tana and Samjhaun Kaise..The full on rock'ish Maula kicks some serious butt but I so love the classical dig that the singers engage in Tum Tana..Makes for a lively and a compelling listen!

6.Junoon(2007,Indipop,Abhijeet Sawant):
The fact that this soundtrack finds a place in this list might be considered laughable by many,but I've been listening to this album for I-don't-know-how-long-now.This album has some mighty addictive songs and Abhijeet Sawant's voice is just magical and is a major highpoint.Even though the album is undone by unabashed lifts in the form of Tanha and Mahi Mahi,this album finds a place in this list
because of the four Amit Trivedi's compositions-title track,Dhoondein,Meri Aankhein and Tere Bina.These four tracks have left an indelible impact on me and are still on my playlist.If I were to pick one from the four,it would be Dhoondein-It has a totally hum worthy refrain and the part where Abhijeet goes "Rahi Meri Jaane Kyon" till the end of the paragraph is just too good for words!

7.No Smoking(2007,Hindi,Vishal Bharadwaj):
Anurag Kashyap,Vishal Bharadwaj and Gulzar-Just think about this combination!..I've always been a huge huge fan of Vishal style of music and I had to make a choice between Kaminey and No Smoking and picked No Smoking for it's sheer variety and
vibrancy.Scoring music for a theme like this can be very arduous and Vishal does it with panache.Every song from this soundtrack makes for a super listen and amongst them,I totally love Ash Tray and Kash Laga..the repetitive hook in Kash Laga is absolutely delightful while Ash Tray manages to be super addictive even while being daringly different!

8.Thaalam(2008,Malayalam Pop,Yakzan,Charan,Job Kurian):
This is yet another album that I heard very late and have been listening a looot since then.Apparently the trio haven't even been paid for this album which is so unfair!..This album is rocking in every sense of the word-Be it the high pitched lovely title track or the Middle eastern base in Kanneer Padam or the typical malayalam'ish Innite,this album is an amazing blend of some mighty tuneful music.But the highlight of this album is Iruthala Pakshi-Nedumudi Venu is sizzling in this song and the panchatantra story that it narrates is so imaginatively tuned..Do yourself a favor and DO NOT miss this album!

9.Avial(2007,Malayalam Rock,Assorted Artists):
Avial gave a completely new dimension to rock music with their maiden album and Iam very excited about their second too! Their Nada Nada,Sancharam and Adu were such a rage and the tune structure along with the raw energy of the songs was something new that time and totally blew me away!..But my favorites from this album are the mellow tracks,Njan Aara and Ettem Pattu-They have such gorgeously catchy hooks along with some spirited singing that it is hard to not fall in love with them!

10.Cafe Fluid(2010,Indipop,Naveen Kumar):
Cafe Fluid was a stupendous follow up to a breathtaking debut,Fluid by Naveen Kumar..He is completely magical with his flute and there is an added bonus in the form of Sivamani's percussion to make the songs all the more accessible.I think Cafe Fluid was better than Fluid just for those two songs,the title track and Uileann Pipes-While the title track's prelude is enough to make your hairs in the neck stand up,Uileann Pipes is another complete goose bump material and is THE song of the year for 2010 for me..I do not know how many times I have listened to this song and I still do!..This album is one complete scorcher!

The soundtracks that missed out on the top 10 are:

11.Mahaleela(2009,Indipop,Sivamani)

12.Boondh-A Drop Of Jal(2008,Pakistani Pop,Jal)

13.Rock On(2008,Hindi,Shankar Ehsaan Loy)

14.Life in a metro(2007,Hindi,Pritam)

15.Striker(2010,Hindi,Assorted Artists)

16. Jodha Akbar(2008,Hindi,A R Rahman)

17.Kattradhu Thamizh(2007,Tamil,Yuvan Shankar Raja)

18.Jhootha Hi Sahi(2010,A R Rahman)

19.Taare Zameen Par(2007,Hindi,Shankar Ehsaan Loy)

20.Leader(2009,Telugu,Mickey J Meyer)

I know I inluded Boondh-A Drop of Jal here but I just couldn't resist putting it in this list..It is one spellbinding album! There are soundtracks like Jodha Akbar which is there as low as the sixteenth in the list but after so long,there are some soundtracks that stay with you and leave a huge impact even though they may not appeal to you in the beginning..Those soundtracks score over the more popular soundtracks usually! But that does not take away the fact that JA is a completely stunning soundtrack!

The last five years was a magical period for Indian music and it is only bound to get better,what with so many composers around and also lots of new composers joining the party.Looking forward to an even better 2011-15!

Yuvan!

May 26,2010.After a relatively dull and a lonely afternoon(Like its been for a while now,without mom and sis!)my dad gives me a call saying "Hey,You wanna meet Yuvan Shankar Raja?"..Was I psyched or what?..I was like "Are you serious?" and then he said Yuvan was gonna come to Sathyam Cinemas to give an interview for the S Magazine.He said he had to pull some strings,but apparently the main spokesperson of Sathyam Cinemas(And a colleague of his)instantly agreed and asked me to come as soon as possible.

And then it happened.At Ecstasy in Sathyam Cinemas.The funny thing was,after i entered the place,I was talking to dad's colleague and dint even notice Yuvan,who was standing alongside her!(This was because Yuvan is really short.He can easily be camouflaged with the crowd and can make himself inconspicuous!)And then I went all "Oh Dear God" and she introduced me to him as a 'Huge Fan' and we shook hands.And we took a picture.And then I kinda let slip that Iam one of the select few people who is a major fan of his,predominantly because of his background scores for films and also for soundtracks like Pudhupettai,Azhagai Irukkirai Bayama Irukkiradhu,Raam,Kattradhu Thamizh and Yogi.He seemed to be pleasantly surprised by my little confession(I desperately wanted to tell him that because these soundtracks are terribly under rated.And I also find it deeply amusing when some people think that his scores for Paiya and Chennai-28 are his career best till now)And then we spoke for 5 mins and he seemed to be quite cheerful!

And then Yuvan had to give the interview,so I left him for a while.Meanwhile,I was preparing a questionnaire in my mind and I ordered a coffee which tasted like piss.After my initial outburst,I swore to myself that I'll hold my urge to say stuff like "God Iam such a huge fan of yours" or "Cant believe Iam talking to Yuvan Shankar Raja!:O" and thought I should rather have a mature conversation and not make a fool of myself.And then,the interview was over and next thing I knew,both of us were sitting and we were talking a lot about mainstream music!..And I couldnt have asked for a cozier place than Ecstasy(And no was in the near distance and it became almost like a rendezvous!)..Surprisingly,I was shooting some blatant right-on-the-money questions and he dint budge.He answered them all!(I actually had the nerve to ask him "How many soundtracks do you think you'll last?" when we were talking about tune fatigue!)..

We talked for about 20 minutes and I asked all about his forthcoming projects,his Hindi and Telugu projects and about other stuff(Including Harris Jeyaraj!).Even though Iam not gonna reveal anything about the projects here,Yuvan fans,make no mistake-He has some fantastic projects lined up and he's really kicked about them!..Iam tempted to continue more about the conversation,but I dont think Iam gonna.Sorry!

There were two things that made my day-First,obviously having a conversation with Yuvan!..And the second was because of the answer he gave to my "How many soundtracks do you think you'll last?" question.I was completely blown away by the confidence with which he answered that question!(We've seen innumerable instances of composers doing a good job at first,and then slowly fading into the oblivion.And we have another word for composers who do not fall in this category-LEGENDS!)And even though I wanted to act all mature,before leaving I couldnt help but say "You've made my day!"..And Iam glad I did!

After all the head-ache that my friends usually give when it comes to booking tickets as my dad works there(And they're gonna be so mad after reading this!:P) For the first time,I was genuinely glad that my dad worked in Sathyam Cinemas!


P.S:After coming back to my house,I realized I forgot to pay for my coffee!:P

Prince(Hindi,Sachin Gupta)

What impresses big time in this soundtrack is Sachin roping Atif Aslam to sing for as many as 4 tracks!..While Abhija Sanam and O Mere Khuda are sure-shot winners with a groovy tune,Atif's fantastic vocals and excellent arrangements,Sachin's version of Tere Liye works better than Atif's-With a beautiful tune,Sachin towers over the vocals and adds a completely new flavour to it.Kaun Hoon Mein has Atif weaving magic with his rousing vocals and makes this track work single handedly.While Jiyara Jiyara has a staid tune that doesnt make an impact,Ishq Mein for sure provides some fun with a simple catchy tune.With some promising soundtracks from Sachin Gupta earlier,the composer takes giant leaps with this soundtrack.

Maro Charitra(Telugu,Mickey J Meyer)

Ranjith and Varun Sandesh are good in We Dont Care-But even though it has its elements,the song is so dated and familiar to strike an impact.Prema Prema also seems to be straight out of Mickey's repertoire,but this song works,mainly due to the honey-coated tune and Karthik's vocals.Shweta Pandit's Ninnu Nannu is astoundingly beautiful-While Shweta rocks completely with her vocals,it is the surreal backgrounds that hits the bulls eye in this song.In the last 2 tracks,Mickey retunes two MS Vishwanathan's tracks and they are the highlights of this soundtrack-Shweta Pandit is again at the thick of the things in Ye Teega Poovuno and the mesmerizing tune is a sure-shot winner.The other track,Bale Bale Mogadivoy with its groovy arrangements and a mighty impressive tune is maha-addictive.Mickey J Meyer delivers another winner with Maro Charitra!

Shaapit(Hindi,Chirantan Bhatt,Aditya Narayan,Najam Sheraz)

Chirantan Bhatt composed Ajnabee Hawayen has amazing rendition by Shreya Ghoshal,but the brooding tune however doesnt make the desired impact.Chirantan Bhatt's other song,Hayaati Ye is quite catchy mainly due to Hamza's vocals while Aditya Narayan's Chaahta Dil is more like it-Even with a sugar-coated tune,it is Aditya's brilliant vocals that is mighty impressive(Which is best heard in the paragraphs!).Aditya and Sunidhi Chauhan combine together and steal the show in Shaapit Hua-With a catchy tune and rocking vocals,this track is very addictive.Najam Sheraz's Tere Bin Jiya Na Jaye tries too hard to be soulful and succeeds only partially.Vikram Bhatt surely has a winner in Aditya Narayan but the other 2 composers fail to live upto the desired standards.

Toh Baat Pakki(Hindi,Pritam)

Even Mika Singh's vocals doesnt help Is Din which is so jaded and annoying while Sonu Nigam's Phir Se starts off really well,but lacks the punch to sustain interest throughout the song.Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's version isnt great either.Dil Le Jaa is dreadful-It has an atrocious tune and Javed Ali and Shilpa Rao are utterly wasted.But Pritam reaches his Life in a Metro high with Karle Mujhse Pyaar,the only solace of the soundtrack-Rana,Soham and the composer himself chip in with some fantastic vocals and the rousing tune is blended with some amazing sounds.The soaring sounds in the end of the song deserves a mention for sure!..Time warped soundtrack,except for Karle Mujhse Pyaar!

Thambikku Intha Ooru(Tamil,Dharan)

Javed Ali's pronunciation in Mudhal Pen Neeye is horrible but the song works,mainly because of the delectable 'Undhan Kangal Unnaipol' chorus.Koothadu Machi is wacky stuff from Dharan-Even though the tune is familiar enough,composer packages some catchy elements to make the track work.Naresh Iyer's pathos song,Yennai Yaar tries too hard to make up its bad tune with the orchestration but ultimately fails.The title song is predictably a hero-worship track and predictably fails,with an age-old tune which is outright banal.Hariharan and Shreya Ghoshal's Yaaradi is a neat melody but has nothing novel about it while Benny's woefully short Ore Minsaram is the best song of this soundtrack-One rap on the knuckle for Dharan for making this track so short!..Thambikku Intha Ooru is average stuff from Dharan.

Teen Patti(Hindi,Salim-Sulaiman)

Sonia Saigal and Anushka Manchandani rock Life is a Game with their sparkling vocals but the song is punctuated by Amitabh's silly lines throughout the song.Sunidhi Chauhan completely steals the show with her tantalising vocals in the languorous Neeyat Kharab Hai while the duo's orchestration in Intezaar Me Chupa Hai deserves a special mention,even as Naresh Kamat's vocals packs a punch.Joe Alvares'Summertime An The Live is short but has something very catchy about it which is enough to sustain interest.But the highlight of the soundtrack is the title track-While Salim Merchant towers over the vocals,it is the addictive tune and the groovy arrangements which hits the bulls eye!..The duo let go of their usual style and come up with an imaginative soundtrack in Teen Patti.

Karthik Calling Karthik(Hindi,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy,Midival Punditz,Karsh Kale)

With a neat enjoyable tune,Uff Teri Adaa has a good groove with an instantly absorbing chorus but the main highlight of the song is Alyssa Mendonsa's portion! Hey Ya is a clear winner-It has a gorgeous tune and very impressive arrangements and Clinton Cerejo's fantastic rendition makes it nicer! The title track is the highlight of the soundtrack-the ambient and eerie sounds work very well,even as Suraj Jaggan and Shankar Mahadevan do justice with their vocals.Jaane Ye Kya Hua has a typical S-E-L tune and with KK's vocals,it sure has something going for it while Kailash Kher and Sukanya's Kaisi Hai Yeh Udaasi is too tame to make an impact.Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale's Karthik 2.0 is competent,with a catchy assortment of sounds.Karthik Calling Karthik's soundtrack is pretty neat work from the trio!

Striker(Hindi,Assorted Artists)

After Shailendra Bharve's majestic Mera Jahan from Taare Zameen Par,his Cham Cham is again magical-With one alluring rhythm,Sonu Nigam takes this soulful tune to another level with his impeccable vocals.Shailendra's other track,Pia Sanvara also makes a great impact-Sunidhi Chauhan's vocals is a huge bonus while Shailendra's immaculate orchestration is another high for this song! Amit Trivedi gets into his Dev D mood again and delivers big time in Bombay Bombay-While Siddharth's vocals add a unique charm as expected,the song's highlight is a single catchy repetitive hook that comes throughout the song! The Prodigious Yuvan Shankar Raja makes his bollywood debut with Haq Se-The languorous style of the song is accentuated by Siddharth and Yuvan's vocals,even as the beats in the backgrounds are thoroughly captivating! Blaaze's own composition,Aim Lagaa and the Rickshaw mix are very impressive-The pop'ish touch to the Rickshaw mix is commendable while Blaaze,predictably towers over all the rap in both the versions.Lyricist Swanand Kirkire own track,Ajab Teri plays out straight and flat while Vishal Bharadwaj's Yun Hua is another winner-With pure trademark Vishal's style,the pensive tune along with Vishal's vocals blend amazingly well! Striker's soundtrack has tunes from 6 different composers and still works big time-a fantastic hotch-potch!

Kedi(Telugu,Sandeep Chowta)

Kedigadu has Sunidhi Chauhan getting into the thick of things,with the backgrounds having the trademark Sandeep Chowta style and the song definitely works.Arijith Singh sounds almost like Ramana Gogula at places in Neeva Na,a beautifully packaged melody while Enduko Enthaki scores an ace when it comes to the tune and the bizarre rendition by Saleem Shahida especially in the sufi'ish does add charm-And the brooding Enigma'ish backgrounds in this track is fantastic!Relarey,beyond Sonu Kakkar's vocals has the composer infusing some very exotic sounds and finally the tune which takes different turns is the highlight of the song.Sandeep's vocals and the tune,in that order are scintillating in Short and Sweet and exposes the composer's creativity to the fullest!..Rahul Nambiyar's reggae'ish Neelo Emunnadi is funky and catchy and works pretty well while the composer takes over from where Devi Sri Prasad left in Jagadam in the catchy Mu Mu Muddante remix.Neha Kakkar's Janiya Jane after an enthralling start takes the fast route,but with the spunky sound intact and Neha Kakkar's rendition is awesome!..Kedigadu's orchestra version is nothing short of brilliant-Sandeep infuses some completely stunning violin sounds in the middle which adds an astoundingly dazzling effect!Trust Nag to come out with Sandeep's best in a long time-And the composer does,in his own style!

Mundhinam Partheney(Tamil,SS Thaman)

Indre Indre is very Mani Sharma'ish and the pleasant arrangements help the already uplifting tune,helped considerably by Ranjith's excellent vocals.Pesum Poove is tailor-made for Krish and Suchitra-the song which starts off slowly,leads to the hum-worthy chorus which comes out of nowhere!..Manadhin Adiyil has a brilliantly conjured pop'ish tune with Priyadarshini sounding like a complete rockstar while Maya also has a very likeable pop'ish sound with a refreshing tune that works instantly.The highlight of the soundtrack is Kanavena and the title track-While Haricharan rocks the lovely tune in Kanavena,it is actually the bewitching arrangements that makes it a winner.And Thaman goes behind the mike this time and delivers a knock out in the title track-The jazz tinged arrangements blends amazingly well with Thaman's vocals and the title riffs are humworthy-Big time!..Mundhinam Partheney's soundtrack is Thaman's best till date!

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya(Tamil,A.R.Rahman)

After so much hype about Vijay Prakash's Hosanna,the song barring the catchy chorus is actually very average.And one can almost feel the fact that Rahman should have added a little more than just the chorus which comes for a minute!..Naresh Iyer's Kannukkul Kannai has a damn addictive tune and Rahman does exceedingly well when it comes to orchestration while Devan Ekhambaran and Chinmayi completely steal the show in Anbil Avan-With an enticing tune,Rahman is at it again and does his magic in the quirky interludes.Benny's subdued rendition in the breezy Omana Penne is fabulous and the mild carnatic base towards the end of the song is a masterstroke!..Shreya Ghoshal's Mannippaaya has a pleasant enough tune but really lacks the extra punch that a Rahman track usually has.Except for the beautiful title riffs,the title track also really has nothing going for it.Alphonse's Aaromale is the highlight of the soundtrack-Rahman smartly packages the right proportion of backgrounds in a moody tune,and not to forget the Malayalam lyrics!..Even though few songs fail to reach expected standards,VTV's soundtrack is sparkling and sets the tone beautifully for the film!

Namo Venkatesa(Telugu,Devi Sri Prasad)

Roping Mano to croon the title song is pleasantly surprising,but the song is still seeped in Devi's style and works only to an extent.Karthik completely gets into the scheme of things in Non Stop,which has one heck of a catchy tune but is undone by some standardized and predictable arrangements.Sagar and Roshni's Nee Kallalo also works really well-It has all the catchy elements that one looks forward to from a Devi track and also,the tune is delightful!..Ding Dong and Tuttodoi are massively cliched and make no impact whatsoever while Venu's Soundarya is a stock tune from Devi,but still works pretty well,barring the predictable and cheesy chorus.Namo Vankatesa has Devi doing his usual thing,yet again!

Goa(Tamil,Yuvan Shankar Raja)

The title song and the club mix version are completely scintillating-Has all the hep elements that one looks forward from Yuvan and also has some completely rocking sounds interspersed between all the singing!..Andrea's vocals is breathtaking in the delightful and serene Idhu Varai even as Ajeesh steps up in the middle and sings his way to glory!..Ilaiyaraja,SPB and Chitra rule the mighty enjoyable and massy Vaaliba Va Va and the catchy and addictive hum in the middle makes it even more nicer!..The five cousins have a ball in singing the unbelievably Raja'ish folk track in Yezhezhu Thalaimuraikkum and needless to say,this track works-big time!..Ilaiyaraja's off key vocals is a misfit in the haunting pathos song,Oru Nalla Ooru while Adida Nayandiye is punchy and is one heck of a lively folk track!..The highlight of the soundtrack is Kaathal Endral and Idai Vazhi-Yuvan's short Kathal Endral reaches 7G high with a sparkling tune which is rendered in his own style by Yuvan while Benny and Mamtha Mohandas'Idai Vazhi is easily the best of the soundtrack-Yuvan simply weaves magic in both the tune and the arrangements,ala Rahman here!..A completely dazzling and an eclectic soundtrack and Yuvan starts the year with a bang!

My Name is Khan(Hindi,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)

Shankar Mahadevan and Adnan Sami tower over the soulful Noor-E-Khuda which has a genuine exquisite tune which is drenched in SEL's style.Sajda and Tere Naina are also typical of SEL,but both the songs work pretty well-While Rahat Fateh Ali Khan does what is expected of him in Sajda,it is actually the hum-worthy tune that works while the rhythmic Tere Naina,with a beautifully constructed tune is a shade better than Sajda!..Rashid Khan's Allah Ki Rahem doesn't make much impact while Suraj Jagan and Shankar Mahadevan join once again after Rock on in Rang De-With a very addictive chorus and spirited singing,this song is clearly the highlight of the soundtrack.This time,Karan Johar thankfully leaves S-E-L take charge over the soundtrack and they deliver again!

Asal(Tamil,Bharadwaj)

The title track,beyond all appeasing-Ajith elements is a winner mainly because of the refulgent orchestration which thankfully doesn't go overboard while Kuthiraikku Theriyum has one really addictive free flowing tune with some fantastic vocals by Surmukhi!..Tottodaing is a lame title but the song has a neat rhythm with some interesting hooks while the slow and plain Em Thanthai is also pretty competent with Bharadwaj towering over the vocals.Yey Dushyantha's orchestration is blatantly lifted from Yeh Ishq Hai(Jab We Met) but has a lively tune that works well.The last track,Yengay Yengay however plays out flat and fails to make an impact.Charan gets a pretty good soundtrack from Bharadwaj in Asal!

My Picks Of The Year 2009(English,Hindi,Tamil,Telugu)

Overall,2009 has been a good year of music in my opinion.While Hindi and Telugu was fantastic,Tamil was very average.When it comes to English,Iam just listing out my favourite numbers which I seem to have enjoyed through this year.So here we go!..

English
As I said,this list is just a bunch of my favourite songs(But in the order of preference though!)which I've heard this year,and some of them might not have even released this year!..First 2 songs,Fireflies and Paparazzi were two knockouts and were consistent in my playlist for a while now.In terms of the albums,21st Century Breakdown and Cradlesong were fantastic!..


1.Fireflies(Ocean Eyes,Owlcity)
2.Paparazzi(The Fame,Lady Gaga)
3.Beautiful(Relapse,Eminem)
4.21 Guns(21st Century Breakdown,Green Day)
5.Natural(Cradlesong,Rob Thomas)
6.So Fine(Imperial Blaze,Sean Paul)
7.Love etc(Yes,Pet Shop Boys)
8.Three(The Singles Collection,Britney Spears)
9.New Divide(Transformers-The revenge of the Fallen,Linkin Park)
10.Sexy Bitch(One Love,David Guetta)

Hindi
2009 was one heck of a year for Hindi.The year started off with a bang when Amit Trivedi's Dev D and Rahman's Delhi 6 came out.Both occupy the top 2 slots in the soundtracks of the year,followed by Tum Mile,Kaminey and newcomer Piyush Mishra's Gulaal.The composer(s) of the year goes to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman.They were unstoppable and churned out some kick ass songs right through the year.

1.Dil Gira Dafatan(Delhi 6,A.R.Rahman)
2.Barso Yaaron(London Dreams,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
3.Dil Ibaadat(Tum Mile,Pritam)
4.Kya Kare Zindagi(Kaminey,Vishal Bharadwaj)
5.Life is Crazy(Wake Up Sid,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
6.Paayaliya(Dev D,Amit Trivedi)
7.Aasma Odh Kar(13B,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
8.Kurbaan Hua(Kurbaan,Salim-Sulaiman)
9.Ye Doorian(Love Aaj Kal,Pritam)
10.Milke Yun Laga(Jail,Sharib-Toshi)

The next 5 tracks that deserve mention are:
11.Sapnon Se Bhare Naina(Luck By Chance,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
12.Jao Na(Whats Your Rashee,Sohail Sen)
13.Gadbadi Hai(Rocket Singh,Salim-Sulaiman)
14.Saanson Ka Rukna(Straight,Sagar Desai)
15.Yaara Maula(Gulaal,Piyush Mishra)

Top 5 soundtracks
1.Dev D(Amit Trivedi)
2.Delhi 6(A.R.Rahman)
3.Tum Mile(Pritam)
4.Kaminey(Vishal Bharadwaj)
5.Gulaal(Piyush Mishra)

Composer(s) of the year:Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman

Though Indipop wasn't that great this year,we had some fantastic albums like Sivamani's Mahaleela,Kailasa's yet another winner,Chandaan Mein and Mohit Chauhan's Fitoor.

Top 5 Indipop albums
1.Mahaleela(Sivamani)
2.Chandaan Mein(Kailasa)
3.Fitoor(Mohit Chauhan)
4.Tu Hi Mere Rab Ki Tarha Hai(Mithoon)
5.Saptak(Mekaal Hassan)

Tamil
Tamil was,as i said very average this year.But a lone composer,Yuvan ruled the roost right through the year with amazing soundtracks.But G.V Prakash used his opportunity to full extent and hit the bulls eye with Selva's Ayirathil Oruvan soundtrack and it occupies the top slot in the soundtracks of the year,followed by Sabesh-Murali's refreshing Pokkisham,Yuvan's Yogi,Sarvam and Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum.And needless to say,the composer of the year tag goes to Yuvan this year!..

1.Yaarodu Yaro/Yogi Theme without Sarangi(Yogi,Yuvan Shankar Raja)
2.Neethane(Sarvam,Yuvan Shankar Raja)
3.Indha Paadhai(Aayirathil Oruvan,G.V.Prakash)
4.Yerutthazha Yezhu Mani(Peraanmai,Vidyasagar)
5.Nila Nee Vaanam(Pokkisham,Sabesh-Murali)
6.Tharai Erangiya(Eeram,S.S.Thaman)
7.Chinnan Sirisu(Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum,Yuvan Shankar Raja)
8.Kathaigal Pesum(Angaadi Theru,G.V.Prakash)
9.Thuli Thuli(Paiya,Yuvan Shankar Raja)
10.Edu Edu(Appavi,Joshua Shridhar)

Top5 soundtracks
1.Aayirathil Oyuvan(G.V.Prakash)
2.Pokkisham(Sabesh-Murali)
3.Yogi(Yuvan Shankar Raja)
4.Sarvam(Yuvan Shankar Raja)
5.Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum(Yuvan Shankar Raja)

Composer of the year:Yuvan Shankar Raja

Telugu
Telugu,surprisingly had one amazing year after a prolonged lull for the previous 2 years.Yuvan's Oy and Mickey J Meyer's Leader were 2 breathtaking soundtracks and occupy top 2 slots.The best composer(s) of the year goes to Mickey J Meyer and Mani Sharma.Many of you might be surprised by the addition of Mani Sharma,but he churned out hits consistently and his offbeat evolved sound in Banam was also very impressive!..

1.Seheri(Oy,Yuvan Shankar Raja)
2.Maa Telugu Thalliki instrumental(Leader,Mickey J Meyer)
3.Telusuko(Kavya's Diary,Manu Ramesan)
4.Aanandama(Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam,Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
5.Arere Chejarindha(Boni,Ramana Gogula)
6.Meghama(Prayanam,Mahesh Shankar)
7.Yele Yele(Ganesh,Mickey J Meyer)
8.Ek Niranjan(Ek Niranjan,Mani Sharma)
9.Kadile Padam(Banam,Mani Sharma)
10.Ringa Ringa(Arya 2,Devi Sri Prasad)

Next 5 tracks that deserve mention:
11.Nachave Nachesave(Kasko,Premgi Amaran)
12.Maahive(Ride,Hemachandra)
13.Neelo Anuvantha(Kalavaramaye Madilo,Sharreth Vasudevan)
14.Your My Love story(Current,Devi Sri Prasad)
15.Poolu Gusa Gusa(Saleem,Sandeep Chowta)

Top 5 soundtracks
1.Oy(Yuvan Shankar Raja)
2.Leader(Mickey J Meyer)
3.Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam(Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
4.Kavya's Diary(Manu Ramesan)
5.Prayanam(Mahesh Shankar)

Composer(s) of the year:Mickey J Meyer and Mani Sharma

Ishqiya(Hindi,Vishal Bharadwaj)

Besides a tinge of RD Burman's style,Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's rendition in Dil To Bachcha Hai is exquisite and so is the tune.Vishal's backgrounds in this track makes it even more likeable.Sukhwinder Singh and Mika have a ball in singing Ibn-E-Batuta,a highly enjoyable song which has a tune akin to Vishal's style and is one truly rocking composition!..Rekha Bharadwaj's Badi Dheere Jali also works well-While Rekha is at her very best with her moody vocals,Vishal conjures a brilliant tune with ample support from the flawless backgrounds.Ab Mujhe Koi's simple free-flowing tune is its main strength and Rekha's vocals once again hits bulls eye.Vishal Bharadwaj starts the year on a high with Ishqiya's soundtrack.

Bolo Ram(Hindi,Sachin Gupta)

Do Dil Hain's pulsating tune and high-on-groove backgrounds is no doubt funky,but the vocals kinda get submerged because of the backgrounds.Maa Tere Jaisa also works-Sukhwinder Singh pulls off this track with panache and the the tune is very impressive.And Sachin uses all the familiar tricks of the trade when it comes to the tune and the ambient backgrounds!..Sunidhi Chauhan's Tere Ishq Mein is the highlight of this soundtrack-With a beautifully constructed tune,Sunidhi Chauhan is in prime form and the chorus riffs is awesome in this track.After some impressive work earlier,Sachin Gupta continues to show promise,this time in Bolo Ram's soundtrack!