Indian Film Music

It's time for the yearly music roundup. As is usual, I'll start with Malayalam (and cover the rest over the coming week), that continues to give some of the best tracks across Indian films. Naturally, I was spoilt for picks yet again. #Malayalam2025 #MusicRoundup2025 It was the year of Justin Varghese and Jakes Bejoy, who delivered at least two great soundtracks each. My top picks for the soundtracks, in order, are 1) Justin Varghese's Paka, 2) Jakes Bejoy's Lokah: Chapter 1: Chandra, 3) Justin Varghese's Painkili, 4) Justin Prabhakaran's Hridayapoorvam, and 5) Justin Varghese's Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira. Now counting down the tracks of the year. 30. Oru Pakalin Idavazhiyil ("Raveendra Nee Evide", Prakash Ulliyeri) 29. Kanmathi Kankalil ("Janaki v/s State of Kerala", Girish Narayanan) 28. Malayajaavilolam ("Jangar", Bijibal) 27. Santhatha Sakhiye ("Sahasam", Bibin Ashok) 26. Love Bite ("Dheeran", Mujeeb Majeed) 25. Varmathiye ("Once Upon a Time in Kochi", Ouseppachan) 24. Ithale Ponnithale ("Am Ah", Gopi Sundar) 23. Rang Likha ("Vadakkan", Bijibal) 22. Ariyaa Dooram ("Rekhachithram", Mujeeb Majeed) 21. Aadu Ponmayile ("Narivetta", Jakes Bejoy) 20. Arikil Etho Novin ("Machante Maalakha", Ouseppachan) 19. Kaadhal Ponmaan ("Nellikkampoyil Night Riders", Vishnu Vijay) 18. Kollam Pattu ("Ponman", Justin Varghese) 17. Padakalame ("Balti", Sai Abhyankkar) 16. Tuk Tuk Tuk Tu ("Hridayapoorvam", Justin Prabhakaran) 15. Melle Vannu Priyan ("Melle Vannu Priyan", Mohan Sithara) 14. Minnalvala ("Narivetta", Jakes Bejoy) 13. Heart Attack ("Painkili", Justin Varghese) 12. Arike ("Vala – Story of a Bangles", Govind Vasantha) 11. Varum Pokum ("Alappuzha Gymkhana", Vishnu Vijay) 10. Queen of the Night ("Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra", Jakes Bejoy) 9. Azrael ("L2: Empuraan", Deepak Dev) 8. Kandu Kandu ("Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira", Justin Varghese) 7. Manam Peyyum ("Get Set Baby", Sam C.S.) 6. Naruthingal ("Sahasam", Bibin Ashok) 5. Baby Baby ("Painkili", Justin Varghese) 4. Radio Song ("Moonwalk", Prashant Pillai) 3. Paranje Paranje ("Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra", Jakes Bejoy) 2. Hridayavathil ("Hridayapoorvam", Justin Prabhakaran) 1. Paka ("Ponman", Justin Varghese). Playlists (with 5 more songs that barely missed the cut): Spotify bit.ly/Malayalam2025 Apple Music music.apple.com/in/playlist/be…

@exit30b ஓ நீங்களும் நம்ம செட்டு!

@SoundTrackIndia Heheh, i also like EO better only

TIL எவனோ ஒருவன் was composed for IRUVAR. after ராசாத்தி experience can see why Mani Ratnam didn’t want it.

Terrible of @AmazonMusicIN and @thinkmusicindia to rip off painstaking work by Nishad @indoencers instagram.com/reel/DWtl9O4Dg…

@taparam Ouch!

Ramayana teaser looked and sounded very good, better than what I expected, and then... ARR started singing. 😭

Hans Zimmer to collaborate with ARR for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana? Doesn't seem right. Why do we need an outsider? Zimmer is a brilliant musician but what can he offer that ARR can't, specially in the context of an ancient Indian story?

@KrishnaRmm @pnamblat With Love yes — pretty good songs! Not the other one yet

@pnamblat @SoundTrackIndia Hope You Guys Heard Couples Friendly & With Love Albums..

I hold The Legend album high, and perhaps the only light in an otherwise dull phase of Harris Jayaraj for over a decade now. Kadhal Reset Repeat is showing more promise in what Harris could still do. I like all the songs. Anbe Anbe is full of nostalgia — glad it exists! open.spotify.com/track/35M2feNX…

Get Shreya Ghoshal on board, lock an easy-to-hum tune, get the titular hook in line — how the consistently brilliant Girrish G lands another lovely track! open.spotify.com/track/1zoAGVMQ…

@pnamblat Iravinil Oruvanai, Anirudh x Chinmayi!

Chinmayi has sung this hidden gem which many of you havent heard.

@pnamblat Yep yep! Same top two picks. Liking the Maanoothu Madhaiyila inspired Hola Hola too!

@SoundTrackIndia un parvai and anbe anbe are my picks from the album.. unparvai goes back to thumbi vaa and anbe anbe also points back to his song only right?( uyirin uyire...?)

@pnamblat @kaveinthran @MusicAloud @milliblog Welcome back!

@kaveinthran @SoundTrackIndia @MusicAloud @milliblog I have a thread .. this is based on ragas x.com/pnamblat/statu…

Raja is the king in composing erotic universe. Can folks help me to find songs by other mds, an Indian langsbut underappreciated and is so horny and full of music exploration and experimentation. Like thazhuvuthu song. Or ponmeni. youtu.be/UIKfdREQhHU?si… @pnamblat @tamizhan

@exit30b Ouch

ஆ / நீ தந்தது / காதலின் / உயிர் வலி என்று மதுஶ்ரீ பாடும் போது சில சமயங்களில், இல்லை, காதலின் அல்ல, காதினில் என்று சொல்லத் தோன்றுகிறது.

@exit30b No thanks

@SoundTrackIndia please watch THAAIKIZHAVI

so THAAIKIZHAVI is this year’s TOURIST FAMILY uh?

@exit30b I didn’t care for the movie. I loved the songs, especially Mugai Mazhai.

@SoundTrackIndia TF had songs? 🧐 don’t remember. I meant more like That Overrated Crowd Pleaser.

@exit30b @krisharvind @equanimus 😭🤣

@krisharvind @SoundTrackIndia @equanimus oh, now saw it fully. sorry one suspect watched on mute and other watched half only, so confusion.

Am I the only one who finds Vignesh Raja's "கர" (the title) to be in the grand GVM tradition of "செம்ம தமிழா ஒரு title வெக்குறோம்!" (which itself owes something to Mani Ratnam but he comes off as so restrained in comparison!)

@exit30b @equanimus Ah I should have unmuted it

@SoundTrackIndia @equanimus he says என் மேல படிஞ்ச கறையத் தொடைக்கணும் or some such thing in the teaser

@exit30b @equanimus I thought it’s shore?

@equanimus it was very odd. what does it even mean, கறை?

Hridayavathi, sung by Minmini (!) and Madhu Balakrishnan. Lovely retro! open.spotify.com/track/6SN3c8g7…