Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly new music playlist. Week 48:
On Apple Music | On Saavn | On YouTube
22 songs this week. No single streaming platform scales up to provide for all of them 🙁 YouTube is the best bet for you this week since it has 16 songs. I’m terribly disappointed that the songs of Thattumpurathu Achuthan are not on Saavn or Apple Music yet given how good the music is; Mangalakaaraka, in particular! Also, Maanathe Chandirane Pole, from Ottakkoru Kaamukan is only on Saavn. The 2 wonderful songs from the Kannada film Jeer Jimbe are YouTube-only too. It also has only one of The Yellow Dairy’s new EP – the 3 songs together are available on Saavn and Apple Music – highly recommened, those songs!

A note on the songs in the playlist.

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Sweetheart (Kedarnath, Hindi): The 2nd single from Amit Trivedi’s Kedarnath. Simple, lively wedding song with a line by Amitabh Bhattacharya,
“Sharmaaye si bagal mein
Jo baithi hai dulhan ke
Wahi toh meri Sweetheart hai”
… that’s perhaps going to be heard in many, many weddings in North India soon 🙂 Sushant’s dance moves, though, seem incongruous – he’s dancing way too much, with utterly out-of-place moves, for this kind of a tune, I thought.

Manchukurise Vela (Manchukurisevelalo, Telugu): I have been a huge admirer of the vastly underrated Shravan Bharadwaj’s music. Last year, he produced outstanding music for films like Malli Raava and Chandamama Raave, but I really doubt if his music caught on the way it ideally should have. Here he is, again, with a film titled after an iconic Ilayaraja song (from Abhinandana). It’s a spritely song, very easily likeable and hummable.

Padi Padi Leche (Padi Padi Leche Manasu, Telugu): Composer Vishal Chandrasekhar seems to have got himself a nicer groove in Telugu more than Tamil (despite Jil Jung Juk). The title song of Padi Padi Leche is an excellent example, with its soaring melody and superb vocals by Armaan Malik and Sinduri Vishal.

Kalala Kadhala (Amar Akbar Antony, Telugu): The film’s 4-song album has 3 songs with very glitzy music where Thaman does try something new as far as the sounds are concerned. But the tunes don’t work in those songs as much as it does in this sweeping and thoroughly engaging melody sung beautifully by Harini Ivvaturi.

Maanathe Chandirane Pole (Ottakkoru Kaamukan, Malayalam): After Aathmaavil, the other song that really worked for me in Vishnu Mohan Sithara is this one, with spectacular singing by Joyce Surendran. Her lazy drawl of a singing lifts the already fantastic soundscape the composer lays out.

Puthu Chemba (Autorsha, Malayalam): Autorsha has 2 very good composers – Sharreth and Viswajit (for one song, Chandappura Krithi). But the only song that worked for me was Puthu Chemba, thanks mainly to Indulekha Warrier’s delightful rendition. The music too is very clearly Sharreth’s vibrant imagination, though it doesn’t translate to the other songs.

Neela Raave (Cuban Colony, Malayalam): Composer Aloshya Kaavumpurath’s other song from the film (Manga Curry) was terrible, but he gets this one right! Simple, heartwarming melody without too much shenanigans, handled very well by Shweta Mohan and Yazin Nizar.

Muthumani Radhe & Mangalakaaraka (Thattumpurathu Achuthan, Malayalam): While Mangalakaaraka is an impressively mounted rock-bhajan, Muthumani Radhe keeps it authentic and wonderfully desi. Composer Deepankuran is on to something with this soundtrack, given 3 very good songs!

Orangeu Orangeu, Brotheru Brotheru & Sukumari My Sukumari (Orange, Kannada): After last week’s Yaaro Yaaro, here are 3 more songs from Ganesh’s new film with music by Thaman. Interestingly, all 4 songs have repeating first words 🙂 Thaman goes back to his basics and it works perfectly with the film’s masala appeal. Orangeu, despite the forced lyrics extolling the virtues of ‘Golden Star’ Ganesh, has a manic techno-kuthu rhythm that Thaman has mastered over the years, while Brotheru Brotheru and Sukumari My Sukumari are slower and catchy to boot. Very listenable and fun album!

Usire Usire (Gaanchali, Kannada): There’s a distinctly Hiphop Tamizha-style sound in Chandan Shetty’s music in this song, particularly the uncredited background vocals part. It’s a largely Harris Jayaraj’ish melody, though – pleasant and well sung by Rajesh Krishnan and Supriya Lohith.

Yaako Yeno & Seru Ninnuru (Jeerjimbe, Kannada): Yaako Yeno is the first single from Jeerjimbe, the film for which Charan Raj won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director last year. It’s a lovely, lilting song on the lines of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji! Seru Ninnuru seems more situational, with dialogs interspersed, and the tune, at times, reminded me of A.R.Rahman’s Enna Vilai Azhage (from Kaadhalar Dhinam). But it is a rich melody accentuated brilliantly by Ananya Bhat’s lead vocals and the phenomenally layered music Charan arranges in the background. The chorus kicks in towards the end and takes the song to a new high.

He Darvayta (Naal, Marathi): A wonderful follow-up to AV Prafullachandra’s first single from the film (Jau De Na Va), though, this time, the music is by Advait Nemlekar. The song continues the whimsical musical style of the earlier songs, with a particularly captivating strings section featuring violin, cello, sarangi and viola! Terrific singing by Ankita Joshi & Aanandi Joshi!

Laal Peeli Ankhiyan (Mame Khan, Rajasthani): This is the 2nd song in Mame Khan’s Folk Phonic series (the first came out in June). Unlike the earlier one, this one is a lot more vibrant, pushing the boundaries of what one would expect from Mame Khan, incorporating, with varying degrees success, flamenco and other sounds. But overall, given the wonderfully lively singing the man is known for, it’s a win.

Kajaliyo (Aakanksha Sharma, Rajasthani): The second Rajasthani song this week – what are the odds! Kajaliyo is a famous Rajasthani traditional/folk song and in Kapil Jangir’s music, it gets a new, 80s Hindi film/T-series makeover. Very, very rhythmic and melodious.

Taajub Hai (Jonita Gandhi, Indipop): A simple, catchy and hum-worthy pop song composed by the severely under-rated Gulraj Singh. Not as brilliant as some of his other tracks, but very listenable, nonetheless.

Tere Jeya Hor Disda, Dheere Se & Buniyaad (Izafa, The Yellow Diary): The band’s debut EP (Marz) was very, very impressive, mixing a hugely impressive rock sound with Punjabi lyrics. Izafa’s 3-song EP is a brilliant follow-up, with equally good tunes. The singing continues to be very good – lead vocalist Rajan Batra, to me, sounds like the male equivalent of Rekha Bhardwaj, but is fantastic, again.

Read the post on Filmcompanion.

Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly new music playlist. Week 47:
On Apple Music | On Saavn | On YouTube
12 songs this week. Apple Music fares the best, with 11 songs and is missing the Kannada song from Orange. Saavn is next, with 10 songs – is missing the Kannada song from Orange as well, along with the new version of Aaja Ve (that’s an Apple Music exclusive so far). YouTube is last, with only 7 songs. The 2 songs from Taxiwaala (Telugu) and the 2 songs from Ananthu V/s Nusrath (Kannada) are inside playlists, so have embedded those playlists in the post below.

A note on the songs in the playlist.

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Namo Namo (Kedarnath, Hindi): A simple, resonant Shiva bhajan composed and sung by Amit Trivedi who has had a terrific partnership with director Abhishek Kapoor in the past (Kai Po Che and Fitoor). On a lighter note, the ‘Namo Namo’ invocation in the song (written by Amitabh Bhattacharya) seems like Amit Trivedi’s penance for making song called ‘Mere Achche Din Kan Aayenge’ (written by Irshad Kamil) in Fanney Khan 🙂

Ladies And Gentlemen & Crazy Car (Taxiwaala, Telugu): Jakes Bejoy’s Telugu debut is definitely noteworthy, with Maate Vinadhuga leading the way. Not to be left behind, Crazy Car’s zingy swing sound is a great listen, while Hemchandra rules Ladies And Gentlemen with his superb delivery on top of the slow and catchy melody.

Kannodu Melle & Venmukilukal (Jeevitham Oru Mukhammoodi, Malayalam): Kannodu Melle is a surprise, coming from Jassie Gift. Jassie brings his Kannada form to Malayalam and the result is an easily likeable melody sung by Rajalakshmi and Harishankar KS. The other song from the film, composed by Nahoom Abraham, is good too! The tune and music reminded me of Deepak Dev, but Naheem and Amrita Jayakumar do a great job with the tune.

Ayyappantamma (Motherland, Malayalam): Composer Rakesh Kesavan sings this breezy, guitar-led song that works like a charming story-telling session (accentuated by an appropriately scripted video).

Yaaro Yaaro (Orange, Kannada): Thaman’s catchy, rhythmic tune reminded me of Harris Jayaraj’s body of work, Suttum Vizhi Sudare from Ghajini, in particular. The film’s director, Prashant Raj had a great streak of good music with Joshua Sridhar (Love Guru, Gaana Bajaana and Whistle) and moved to Thaman with his last film, Zoom (middling music, at best). He seems to have struck with Thaman again, and this song is promising.

Eega Thaane Jaariyagide & Zihal-E-Miskin (Ananthu V/s Nusrath, Kannada): Composer Sunaad Gowtham has at least 2 winners in the soundtrack. Eega Thaane Jaariyagide is a dreamy melody that gains so much from Vijay Prakash’s singing and the thoroughly engaging music. Ninada Nayak completely owns Zihal-E-Miskin – yes, the lyrics are, of course, by Amir Khusro. Gulzar had used the first 2 words for a song in Ghulami (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYiTtuwJzTQ). Here, Sunaad uses the actual Persian verse as-is and builds his new tune over it like a ghazal. Excellent singing and tune. There’s a Kannada version of the same tune as well – Ommeyu Thirugi. Equally good. Sung by Ninada Nayak again.

Lalya (Ani…Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar, Marathi): A heady and raucous Marathi folk sound by Rohan-Rohan! Nakash Aziz leads the singing but its clearly the fantastic folk rhythm that keeps the song engaging.

Peg Peg Peg (Manj Musik & Dholi Deep Ft. Emiway, Punjabi): As if Yo Yo Honey Singh’s ‘spirited’ songs are not enough, here’s Manjeet Singh Ral aka Manj Musik, Dholi Deep and Emiway making a very strong and catchy case for why we should remain intoxicated. The music is heady (understandably) and a dance-floor pounding hook!

Aaja Ve (Sona Mohapatra & Ram Sampath, Hindi): Sona Mohapatra and Ram Sampath recreate their classic pop song with the voices of the team Sona is mentoring for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2018. The tune remains highly enticing as always and the new voices do stupendously well too, complete with excellent alaaps towards the end.

Read the post on Filmcompanion.

See the list on Filmcompanion.

Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly new music playlist. Week 46:
On Apple Music | On Saavn | On YouTube
21 songs and 2 ad jingles, this week! I cannot expect the ad jingles to be on Saavn or Apple Music (YouTube-only), but of the 9 Malayalam songs this week, only 4 are on Saavn and 5 on Apple Music, yet! YouTube seems like the best bet this week, with only one song missing (that too only because it is inside a jukebox!) – Saukaaram Pottu, from Thorati. This is also one of those Weeklies where there’s not a single Hindi film song and only one Tamil song!

A note on the songs in the playlist.

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Jaaga Hoon Kab Se & Kal Shab Tumhari (Musafir ka Safarnama, Ghazal): Composer Dnyaneshwar Kasar’s tunes are adequately interesting though they simply mirror conventional ghazal tunes. His choice of singers all through the album seems if’fy, including the idea of him singing. It’s only when he gets really good ghazal singers that the tunes and lyrics work wonderfully. That’s these 2 songs, sung by Hariharan and Vijay Prakash, respectively.

Ye Maayo Emo Teliyadhe (Bluff Master, Telugu): This one’s easily singer Sunitha’s show! Composer Sunil Kashyap hands her a melodious tune that she thoroughly enjoys singing and brings it alive. Sunil’s semi-classical musical flourishes add to the song’s appeal.

Okkarante Okkaru (Savyasachi, Telugu): Sreenidhi Venkatesh carries M.M.Keeravaani’s calming and almost ethereal melody beautifully! The composer is at his best here, producing a melody that focuses on the tune keeping the backgrounds mild and complementary.

Poomuthole (Joseph, Malayalam): The melody, the music… everything is a delightful throwback to the Ilayaraja-style lullaby! In particular, when the simple and warm rhythm starts at the 2nd minute and when the flute starts the first interlude, you can be sure to reach your memory to multiple Ilayaraja songs! Niranj Suresh’s singing adds to the charm! A winner from composer Ranjin Raj.

Kanaka Mulla & Paarijatha Poo (Nithya Haritha Nayakan, Malayalam): 2 more songs by composer Ranjin Raj for this week! Kanaka Mulla is a very competent attempt at creating an adipoli song if you do not watch the terribly amateurish video. The sound is pulsating and the singing, by Jyotsna Radhakrishnan and Mohammed Maqbool Mansoor, is good enough. There are shades of Jassie Gift’s music but that doesn’t matter. On the other hand, Vishnu Unnikrishnan sounds a LOT like Sid Sriram in the other song, Paarijatha Poo, even as Ranjin’s tune too offers him a melody like that!

Aathmaavil (Ottakkoru Kaamukan, Malayalam): Vishnu Mohan Sithara’s music goes a bit too obviously into the retro zone it is gunning for but it is definitely very nice. This is the 2nd song sung by Jyotsna Radhakrishnan (along with Sachin Raj) in this list, incidentally.

Viralthumpum & Pranayappoo (Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, Malayalam): There is a crushing pathos in Ouseppachan’s expansive and beautifully realized music in Viralthumpum. And Adarsh Abraham, the singer, expresses that feeling wonderfully in his vocals. Lovely song! Pranayappoo is the opposite – a lively and ebullient Muslim-wedding song that comes wonderfully alive in Ouseppachan’s music. Excellent singing by Devanand V and Rimi Tomy.

Nenjinullilaake (Thattinpurath Achyuthan, Malayalam): Deepankuran’s melody sounded like Hamir Kalyani to me (reminded me of Rahman’s Malargale Malargale from Love Birds and Vidyasagar’s Thankathinkal from Indraprastham). He has fantastic singers to accentuate the tune – Vineeth Sreenivasan and Radhika Narayanan, while he himself tries some interesting Veena-based (Sounder Rajan) funk in the 2nd interlude!

Kochunni Vazhuka (Kayamkulam Kochunni, Malayalam): A hymnal, evocative and brilliantly mounted theme song from the film, by Gopi Sundar. The singers, Sachin Raj, Arun Gopan, Uday Ramachandran, Krishnalal B S and Krishnajith, do their job really well.

Thee (San Jaimt, Malayalam): A fantastic, powerful rap in Malayalam! The way it is sung and the given the music, I kept thinking it sounded so much like Sri Lankan/Sinhala music and rap! Then I realized it reminded me, to some extent, of Dinesh Kanagaratnam’s outstanding Surangani Remake that Tamil composer Vijay Antony appropriated as Aathichoodi for the film TN 07 AL 4777, featuring brilliant dance by choreographer Shobi. San’s tune and music is racier, though.

Saukaaram Pottu (Thorati, Tamil): Ved Shanker Sugavanam has demonstrated his talent with some good music in the past. This album is largely disappointing, though, given the more situational songs that may seem better on screen. Saukaaram Pottu is the one song that works instantly, given its gentle lilting melody and outstanding vocals by Vijay Prakash!

Dhooma (Salute, Punjabi): Jaidev Kumar, despite the predictable stuff he churns in the rest of the soundtrack (with a guest item song titled Haryana Punjab by Mukesh Verma) including Mannat Noor’s Maahiya, produces at least one very good song in Dhooma! There is a steady addictive rhythm that keeps the song extremely lively and Sahil Solanki’s singing is the icing on the cake – superbly earthy!

Putt Jatt Da (Diljit Dosanjh, Indipop): Archie’s music is catchy and keeps things simple within the Punjabi hip-hop template. Diljit’s singing too is within the expected lines. An enjoyable song within the genre.

Mirza (Nucleya featuring Raftaar, Rashmeet Kaur): A heady mix of Nucleya’s funky sound, Raftaar’s rap and the best part, Rashmeet’s earthy and familiar Punjabi folk phrases. The combination works effortlessly.

The new Maaza ad jingle! (A R Rahman): An ad jingle for a change, in this list! The music is by A R Rahman and this is his most accessible and catchy best after a long time, something he has eschewed for most complex/experimental stuff to extend his own evolution. I hope Maaza considers asking him to make it into a full song and release it as a single.

Bose ad jingle! (Artist: Unknown): Another ad jingle, this week! I *LOVED* this one! I believe Bose commissioned an artist to produce this song specifically for this ad, but I really, really hope that credit the artist (music producer/composer and singer) since it is so good. And yes, release it as a single too!

Machine (Imagine Dragons): In true Imagine Dragons fashion, this is an anthemic, drum-heavy song that is pulsating and throbbing with a fantastic chorus with frontman Dan Reynolds leading the way in style!

I Found You (Calvin Harris, Benny Blanco): An instantly likeable dance-pop where Calvin Harris is not the producer, but the singer (the last single he sang was My Way, from 2016)! Benny Blanco is the producer and he completely owns the bouncy, addictive sound!

Mountains (LSD): LSD is a supergroup featuring Labrinth, Sia and Diplo that has previously released singles like Genius, Thundercloud and Audio. The new track starts on a sedate note featuring Sia and Labrinth’s falsettos before turning delightfully electronic with a catchy hook!

Dreamer (Mike Yung and Martin Garrix): Mike Yung, the former ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant, joins DJ Martin Garrix to create a fantastic soul-EDM mix! Mike’s soaring singing is the highlight, no doubt, but Martin’s alluring EDM phrases lift the song further!

See the list on Filmcompanion.

See the list on Filmcompanion.

See the list on Filmcompanion.

Check out the list on Filmcompanion.