Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly new music playlist. Week 17:
On | On | On
14 songs, this week. YouTube has all 14 songs. Saavn is missing 4 – the 2 Punjabi songs from Sajjan Singh Ranroot (understandably since Speed Records proudly displays ‘exclusive on Gaana’ all over the video, thereby reducing its spread, the new song from Agam that’s available only on YouTube and the song from the Malayalam film Naam, which is from Satyam Audios that has a deal with Apple Music and rarely lists its music on Saavn. Apple Music has 11 songs – it is missing the Agam song and the 2 from Sajjan Singh Rangroot, for the same reason 🙂
A note on each song in the playlist.
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Theher Ja (October, Hindi): Even as Abhishek Arora’s tepid Sooraj Dooba Hain knockoff in Dil Juunglee’s Dil Jaane Na is in circulation, he gets it superbly right with Theher Ja! Armaan Malik significantly elevates it, with its serene melody that truly accentuates the theher ja’s thehrav sentiment.
Sataasat (Blackmail, Hindi): After the T-series inserted songs, finally Amit gets his songs in Blackmail, starting last week’s Badla. While Bewafa Beauty is the most un-Amit Trivedi’ish song ever, Sataasat is a total comfort zone. Trippy and sedate melody that he sings himself like only he can.
Laung Laachi (Laung Laachi, Punjabi): Gurmeet Singh’s tune is very Punjabi – effortlessly rhythmic and instantly catchy, but with a marked feminine grace that Mannat Noor brings with her phenomenal vocals. The natural beauty of the language adds to the whole charm.
Sheesha (Laung Laachi, Punjabi): Mannat Noor pulls off again in Sheesha too, this time the tune is very folksy and melodic, with a softer lilt. That ‘Sheesha ho’ hook is haunting in Mannat’s mesmerizing voice.
Roti (Sajjan Singh Rangroot, Punjabi): The Punjabi war movie based on the experiences of Sikh Regiment during World War I has 3 songs by Jatinder Shah and one by Uttam Singh. Roti is true-blue Punjabi earthiness, made better by leading man, Diljit Dosanjh’s involved vocals.
Pyaas (Sajjan Singh Rangroot, Punjabi): Lovely old world’ish charm in Uttam Singh’s backgrounds, reminiscent of Dil Toh Pagal Hai. It’s Diljit again who carries the searing yearning in the melody which seemed like raag Pilu to me (Pardesiyon se na, Jab Jab Phool Khile).
Tui Ki Kore Dili (Ghare And Baire, Bengali): This is Anupam Roy’s home territory. This is his trademark style, a breezy soft-rock melody that he always sings himself. That hook, “Tui, Tui Ki Kore Dili… Tui E Ki Kore Dili Re… Bol Na, Bol Na, Bol Na” is marvelous!
Kedaya (Kalari, Tamil): VV Prassanna’s tune is largely predictable and familiar, but there’s no denying its charm. Between Prassanna and Vaishaali, the melody’s inherent beauty does come out very well.
Azhuku Jatti Amudhavalli (Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuththu, Tamil): A first for Tamil cinema – a song titled, ‘Amudhavalli’s dirty undies’! The bawdy lyrics are replete with double entendre, but given the whatever-goes horror genre, Balamurali Balu’s song seems oddly and weirdly fun!
Naaloni Nuvvu (Needi Naadi Oke Katha, Telugu): Composer Suresh Bobbili keeps up the promise showcased in last year’s Maa Abbayi. In Naalonu Nuvvu, he ropes in Sony and Naani for the soft and lush melody, with a particularly lovely strings and shehnai’ish profusion.
Vaaram (Chal Mohan Ranga, Telugu): Vaaram plays out like a template of a Thaman song – the melodic intro, followed by the rhythmic hook. In Nakash Aziz’s dependable voice, this works perfectly! The sound and choice of instruments in the interludes is particularly very, very good!
Ardham Leni Navvu (Chal Mohan Ranga, Telugu): A surprise, considering Thaman uses Thyagaraja’s Hamsanadam-raaga based Bantureethi Kolu as-is! Still, the new layer of lyrics juxtaposed on the familiar tune, the modern backgrounds and Sreenidhi’s singing make for lovely listening.
Tanka Takkara (Naam, Malayalam): Kerala produces more college songs than any other Indian language; result of high literacy rates? This song by Ashwin & Sandeep is no doubt reminiscent of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Tattad Tattad from Ram-Leela, but that innate Malayalee charm is a winner.
Koothu Over Coffee (A Dream To Remember, Indipop): The 5th song from Agam’s 2nd album. An original Tamil folk written by Agam’s keyboardist Swamy Seetharaman, the simple and lively folk tune gets a massive fillip from Harish’s superb singing, the choir, and the celtic soundscape!
