Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly new music playlist.
Week 60: On | On
16 songs this week. JioSaavn has 15 of them, and is missing only Shor Police’s Yaaram (that’s on YouTube)! YouTube has 14 songs, and is missing Kumbalangi Nights’s Don’t Fall and Onnum Mindathe from Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel.
A note on the songs in the playlist:

Yaaram – Shor Police: I approached this cover version (of Vishal Bhardwaj’s song from Ek Thi Daayan) very hesitantly, but I have got to say… this is a very well done cover! The choice of genre, layering EDM into the mix, works mighty well!
Adiyaathi Adyaathi – Aghavan (C Sathya) – Tamil: Composer C Sathya was surprisingly muted in 2018. But he’s in good for his first outing in 2019. Vanthana Srinivasan too is in great form, almost sounding like Chinmayi. The backgrounds and tune for the anupallavi is a pleasant and surprising twist.
Aathadi – Natpe Thunai (Hiphop Tamizha) – Tamil: Largely predictable and familiar template from the Hiphop Tamizha duo, but it sure has zingy energy and one heck of a raucous sound!
Summa & Kanna Kuzhi – Anthony Daasan (Tamil): A song that competes with Hiphop Tamizha’s raucousness, but goes more folk and local, in true Anthony Daasan’s style. The guitar and percussion are spirited, and Anthony’s earthy voice is, as usual, the hero. Kanna Kuzhi, in comparison, is a bit too predictable, with familiar riffs and kuthu rhythm, but again, it’s Anthony’s singing that lifts the song easily.
Adhento Gaani Vunnapaatuga/Marakkavillayae – Jersey (Anirudh) – Telugu/Tamil: I liked the Tamil version over the Telugu version primarily because of Vignesh Shivn’s lyrics. It was particularly good in the anupallavi, with Anirudh’s music and tune flowing beautifully over it.
Inthena Inthena – Suryakantam (Mark K Robin) – Telugu: Mark Robin, who has been associated with background music and singles in films like Awe and Veera Bhoga Vasantha Rayulu, gets to produce a mainstream, quintessential Sid Sriram song in Surayakantam. The film does look like his first mainstream, big film. And it’s really good to hear (and see) him on the keyboard in the video – in a way, besides Sid’s stellar vocals, it’s Mark’s work on the keyboard that stands out easily!
First Time Heart Beat – Prema Katha Chitram 2 (JB) – Telugu: That’s the 3rd song from the soundtrack that JB aces! After Merupula Merisina and Naa Kallu Chusedhi, he sure has something going here. The rhythm in First Time Heart Beat is superb, almost a quasi-reggae’ish sound. And PVNS Rohit’s voice carries the tune perfectly.
Puthiya Vazhi – Mr. & Ms. Rowdy (Arun Vijay) – Malayalam: Composer Arun Vijay who had recently scored an ace in Praana, has a winner in Puthiya Vazhi. The melody is rich and deep, aptly backed by a serene sound and lovely flute interludes. Najim Arshad is very, very good with the singing.
Ezhutha Kadha & Don’t Fall – Kumbalangi Nights (Sushin Shyam) – Malayalam: Absolutely lovely, whispery melody by Sushin! This goes back to his Maradona work again, but I’m not complaining at all! Even Don’t Fall, the short track sung by Akhil Unnikrishnan comes brilliantly alive with its psychedelic music and you so wish it wasn’t that short… particularly after the stupendous way it ends!
Babuvetta & Onnum Mindathe – Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel (Gopi Sundar) – Malayalam: The film’s 4-song soundtrack has been split between Gopi and Rahul Raj, 2 each! I liked the 2 songs by Gopi, more than the 2 by Rahul. Babuvetta is spirited kuthu with a really catchy rhythm, while Onnum Mindathe is the soundtrack’s easy highlight. Sasha Tirupati is superb with her range, even as the melody offers her a delightfully smooth tune. The chorus, and the 2 contrasting interludes, in particular, are really good!
Tu Ekda Ha Bolna – Aamhi Befikar (Pranay Adhangale) – Marathi: I’m not familiar with Pranay Adhangale’s body of work, and some of this song seems a bit off too, though I’m not able to point to anything specific. But I’m going to give it to him and add the song to this week’s list. There is enough spunk and style that deserves a listen. I do look forward to more from him.
That’s Mine – Gashi ft. Ledri Vula: The Albanian rapper’s vocals are loaded with a nice drawl that goes well with the catchy hiphop sound. The addictive rhythm and the hook helps too.
Get Free (Chrome Sparks Remix) – Major Lazer, ft. Amber Coffman: Get Free was part of Major Lazer’s second studio album Free the Universe (2013). The new, Chrome Sparks Remix, is significantly more funky and that much more enjoyable!