Countdown 2006 - Part IV

Here are my top 5 songs of 2006. I love all of these songs, and it has been a bit hard to rank them! I could listen to each of these songs over and over and over again...


5. Neele Neele Aasman Talay
Movie: Holiday
Music: Ranjit Barot
Lyrics: Neelesh Misra
Artists: Shreya Ghoshal & Vijay Prakash

This song is like a light, fluffy lemon suffle! I have not watched this movie so I don't really know how this song was picturized. It conjures up images of a clean, white beach with the lead pair in turns running around on the beach and in turns just lazily lying around. This has to be one of the most melodious songs that I have ever heard!


4. Ajnabi Shehar
Movie: Jaan-e-mann
Music: Anu Mallik
Lyrics: Gulzar
Artist: Sonu Nigam

I HATED "Jaan-e-mann"!! I thought that it was the worst movie of 2006! But most of the songs in this movie are quite good, and "Ajnabi Shehar" is the most divine composition in this album. Anu Mallik really surpasses himself with this song. And Sonu Nigam is absolutely, totally, completely, utterly FABULOUS! Gulzar's lyrics are very imaginative. I especially like the second antara:

"Baat hai yeh ek raat ki
Aap badalo pe letey the
Woh yaad hai aapne bulaya tha
Sardi lag rahi thi aapko
Patli chandi lapetey the
Aur shawl mein khwaab ke sulaya tha
Ajnabi thi sahi saans mein silgayi
Ajeeb hai yeh zindagi yeh zindagi ajeeb hai
Mere nahi ye zindagi rakeeb ka naseeb hai..."


3. Mitwa
Movie: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Artist: Shafqat Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, Caralisa

I would put this song in the same category as "Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam" from DDLJ and "Dholna" from "Dil Toh Pagal Hai". For me it has that slightly breathless feel that one would get when one realizes that the person you love loves you back. And this knowledge fills you with a sense of freedom like you have never experienced before.
I also like "Tumhi Dekho Naa" from this movie.
My favorite antara is:

"Jeevan dagar mein prem nagar mein
Aaya nazar mein jab se koi hain
Tu sochta hain tu puchata hain
Jiski kami thi kya yeh wohi hain
Haan yeh wohi hain
Tu ek pyasa aur yeh nadi hain
Kaahe nahi isko tu khulke bataye
Jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
Woh baat kya hai bata
Mitwa kahe dhadkan hai tujhse pyar
Mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa"


2. O Saathi Re
Movie: Omkara
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyrics: Gulzar
Artists: Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Bhardwaj

I think that this is one of the most romantic songs ever!
Vishal Bhardwaj is a really talented man. Not only is he a good music director but a good film director too. Some directors go on and on about how the songs in their movie "take the story forward" or "give more insight into the characters", and after watching the movie I feel that the director had just been talking through his hat! This song forms a wonderful setting that showcases Omkara and Dolly's relationship. My favorite line comes in the beginning of the second antara:

"Kabhi, kabhi yun karna, main daantu aur tum darna..."


1. Tu Bin Bataaye
Movie: Rang De Basanti
Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi
Artists: Madhushree & Naresh Iyer

This song, composed by the incomparable A. R. Rahman, is also one of the most romantic songs that I have ever heard. Madhushree and Naresh Iyer take this song to another level altogether. I regard it as the best song from "Rang De Basanti", and this movie does have some brilliant songs, right from the rambunctious title track to "Luka Chhipi".

"Meethi lagi, chakh ke dekhi abhi
Mishri ki dali, zindagi ho chali
Jahan hain teri baahein mera sahil wahin
Tu bin bataye mujhe le chal kaheen
Jahan tu muskuraye meri manzil wahin..."

Countdown 2006 Part III

Countdown resumed. :)

10. Aaj Ki Raat
Movie: Don
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Artists: Alisha Chinai, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Sonu Nigam

"Shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha..." Thus begins the silken voiced Alisha Chinai. This song has a mysterious, seductive quality to it. It also helps that it is really catchy! I think that it is the best song from "Don". Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy did not handle the remixes too well. Even Sunidhi Chauhan, who is usually really good, did not do a good job in the remixed version of "Yeh Mera Dil".

9. Dekho Naa

Movie: Fanaa

Music: Jatin-Lalit

Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Artists: Sonu Nigam & Sunidhi Chauhan

Sunidhi Chauhan more than makes up for the uninspired singing of "Yeh Mera Dil", with this song. And of course Sonu Nigam spins his magic again. It is my favourite song from "Fanaa". I like the way it is shot too - raindrops falling in slow motion. :) Too bad Jatin-Lalit have decided to go their separate ways; they had come up with some amazing music! I just love each and every composition of theirs from "Khamoshi - The Musical". It is one of the best Hindi movie albums!

8. Bheegi Bheegi Si Hai Raatein

Movie: Gangster

Music: Preetam

Lyrics: Mayur Puri

Artist: James

The angst in James' voice completely matches Shiny Ahuja's shock and anguish at realizing that Kangana Ranaut had turned him over to the cops. It is a very dark song. It starts out slow with

"Bheegi bheegi si hai raatein

Bheegi bheegi yaadein..."

and then delivers a punch when the music swells to

"Najaane koi, kaisi hai yeh zindagani...

Humari adhuri kahaani."

James' powerful voice adds a forceful vitality to the song.

7. Tumse Yun Milenge

Movie: Ankahee

Music: Pritam

Lyrics: Subrat Sinha

Artist: Kunal Ganjawala

I had stayed awake till about 1.30 AM on a weeknight watching "Ankahee", waiting for "Tumse Yun Milenge" to come, to no avail! :( Later I was told that the song plays when the titles roll at the beginning of the movie, which I had missed! :/

I could listen to this song over and over again, which I do quite often! The music is calm and soothing and Kunal Ganjawala does full justice to this song. Don't know why, but each time I hear this song I visualize a hazy picture of green meadows on a bright and sunny day.

6. Kya Mujhe Pyar Hai

Movie: Woh Lamhe

Music: Pritam

Lyrics: Neelesh Misra

Artist: K K

I didn't think much of the song the first time I heard it, but by the fourth or fifth listen, I was completely hooked! The line that grabbed me the most was the refrain "Kya mujhe pyar hai..." Later I began to enjoy the anataras more. This song also has some good lyrics:

"Pathar ke in raston par

Phoolon ki ek chaadar hai

Jab se mile ho humko

Badla har ek manzar hai

Dekho jahaan mein neele neele aasmaan tale

Rang naye naye hain jaise ghulte hue

Soye the khwaab mere jaage tere waaste

Tere khayaalon se hai bheege mere raaste..."

Countdown 2006 Part II

14. Teri Deewani

Album: Kailasa

Artist: Kailasa

This song is the perfect mix of Sufi and Rock music. Kailash Kher's raw voice adds so much to 'Teri Deewani'. When I first heard the following lines my arms broke into goosebumps!

"Ishq junoon jab hadh se badh jaaye,

Hanste hanste aashiq suli chadh jaaye..."

It wasn't because of the lyrics, but because of how the music swells, and Kher's voice just envelopes you with raw, earthy appeal. It's a powerful song! :)

13. Koi Tumsa Nahi

Movie: Krrish

Music: Rajesh Roshan

Lyrics: Nasir Faraaz

Artists: Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal

I think that most of the songs from 'Krrish' are very, very average, save "Koi Tumsa Nahi" and "Main Hoon Woh Aasman". I actually did not think much of "Koi Tumsa Nahi" when I had first heard it. But then one day I was listening to the radio and the song came on the opening bars struck me hard, and I have been hooked on to this song ever since! Sonu Nigam, as usual, is wonderful, though I think that Shreya Ghoshal sounds too sickly sweet. But the song's great thanks too Rajesh Roshan's music.

12. Hai Ishq Yeh Kya

Movie: Bas Ek Pal

Music: Pritam
Artists: K. K. & Sunidhi Chauhan

This is a very high energy song! Both K. K. and Sunidhi Chauhan totally rock the song! I have not watched 'Bas Ek Pal', but have heard reviews from people who have, and the consensus is that the movie is quite bizarre! But the songs are quite good! I like "Tere Bin" and the title song too. But this one appeals to me the best!

11. Sohniye

Movie: Aksar

Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Lyrics: Sameer

Artists: K. K. & Sunidhi Chauhan

This song has very average lyrics, what sets it apart is the music and the talented K. K. with Sunidhi Chauhan for company. I have always maintained that Himesh Reshammiya is a better composer than a singer.This is a very passionate song and I like the slow and langourous manner in which it unfolds. The remixed version totally kills the song!

Countdown 2006

I have been terribly irregular with blogging this year. And I could make a 1000 excuses, but the truth is, I've been bitten by the laziness bug! :(

So without any further ado, let me just start on this long overdue post! I'm gonna now list down my top 20 songs of 2006. Tan tana!! :D :D



20. Dil Lagaa Naa
Movie: Dhoom 2
Music: Pritam
Lyricist: Sameer
Artists: Sukhbir, Soham Chakrabarthy, Jolly Mukherjee, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Suzanne

I like this song for Sukhbir's powerful vocals. And the beat is really foot-tapping!


19. Mehfuz
Album: Mehfuz
Artist: Euphoria

Euphoria is one of my all time favorite bands! Mehfuz took a while to grow on me though, but grow it did! :) It has been sung with a lot of heart by Palash Sen. I like the picturization of the video too. It has the Euphoria trademark on it. :)


18. Kabul Fiza
Movie: Kabul Express
Music: Raghav Sachar
Lyricist: Aditya Dhar
Artist: Raghav Sachar

Last year Raghav Sachar was on my countdown with his song, "Baahon Mein Tu Aaja" from his dubut album. I liked "Kabul Fiza" the first time I heard it. I love the way Sachar has sung this song with a lot of energy.


17. Golmaal, Golmaal
Movie: Golmaal
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Artist: Anushka Manchandani

This song is highly addictive! Each time I hear it I wanna break into a jig! :D Vishal-Shekhar has really got the best out of ex-Viva girl, Anushka. Another fun song from this movie is "Kyun Aage Peechhe Dolte Ho".


16. It's a Beautiful Day
Movie: Aryan
Music: Anand Raj Anand
Lyricist: Kumarr
Artists: Shreya Ghoshal & Hamza

I find this song very soothing. It sets the mood for a lazy afternoon. :)


15. Pal, Pal Har Pal
Movie: Lage Raho Munnabhai
Music: Shantanu Moitra
Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire
Artists: Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal

This song is reminiscent of Cliff Richard's "Theme for a Dream". Maybe Mr. Moitra wanted to pay homage to Sir Cliff! Hehe! Anyway, I do like this song a lot. I'd kept on hearing it on the radio and fell in love with this song. But I was really disappointed by the way it was picturized in the movie! I wish it had been shot more creatively. Oh well! At least it sounds good! And the lyrics are very apt for the situation.

I'm going to end the countdown here, as I'm feeling very, very sleepy. Hopefully I will pick it up next saturday! :D

I Just Wanna Spend My Life With You

I really love this song from "Neal 'n' Nikki". The lyrics aren't all that great, some are a bit cheesy, but it is the excellent music provided by Salim-Sulaiman and the super smooth voice of Clinton Cerejo that make this song great. Clinton Cerejo is accompanied by Dominique Cerejo.

Like a dream you can't explain
Love can chase the bidding of your heart
Like the sunshine in the rain
Love can make your whole world fall apart

But I want it now
I just wanna spend my life with you
Time will show me how
Suddenly everything has turned me inside out
Suddenly love's the thing that I can't live without

You're my dream, my love, my life
I just wanna spend my life with you
You're the one that makes me smile
I just wanna spend my life with you
Gotta love somehow
I just wanna spend my life with you
You can show me how

Suddenly everything has turned me inside out
Suddenly love's the thing that I can't live without

You're my dream, my love, my life
I just wanna spend my life with you
You're the one that makes me smile
I just wanna spend my life with you

What have you done to me?
Is this how it's meant to be?
Can't control this feeling in my heart
I can see paradise
Glowing inside your eyes
And I know you feel it in your heart

But I want it now
I just wanna spend my life with you
Time will show me how
Suddenly everything has turned me inside out
Suddenly love's the thing that I can't live without

You're my dream, my love, my life
I just wanna spend my life with you
You're the one that makes me smile
I just wanna spend my life with you

Love is a crazy thing
Something that you wanna see
And the world's like deep inside your soul
But somebody comes along
Together you sing this song
You just let the music take control

And I want it now
I just wanna spend my life with you
Time will show me how
Suddenly everything has turned me inside out
Suddenly love's the thing that I can't live without

You're my dream, my love, my life
I just wanna spend my life with you...

Here's the link to listen to the song.

Angrezi Top Ten

Here is a list of angrezi songs that I had made last month itself, but kept on forgetting to post. I have heard all these songs thanks to GO 92.5 FM. This radio station sure keeps me connected to the world of music, both our Hindi phillum music and the English variety. So gentlemen and ladies now I present to you my Angrezi Top Ten:

10. Don’t Phunk With My Heart
Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Album: Monkey Business

9. Spun
Artist: Flipsyde
Album: We The People

8. Lonely No More
Artist: Rob Thomas
Album: Lonely No More

7. Lay Your Hands
Artist: Simon Webbe
Album: Sanctuary

6. Speed of Sound
Artist: Coldplay
Album: X & Y

5. City of Blinding Lights
Artist: U2
Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

4. Reasons
Artist: UB40
Album: Who You Fighting For?

3. Breakaway
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Album: Breakaway

2. She will be Loved
Artist: Maroon 5
Album: Songs About Jane

1. You’re Beautiful
Artist: James Blunt
Album: Back to Bedlam

Countdown - Part III

5. Chup Chupke Chup Chupke Chori Se Chori
Movie: Bunty Aur Babli
Music Director: Shankar-Ehsan-Loy
Artists: Sonu Nigam & Mahalaxmi Iyer


I love all the songs from ‘Bunty aur Babli’. But when I was wondering about which one I should select for my list, the answer was simple! It’s gotta be “Chup Chupke”! This song is like “Suraj Hua Maddham” from ‘K3G’. I don’t mean that they sound alike, but they have the same quality. I don’t think I’m explaining myself very well here. But I don’t know how else to explain this! Anyway, once again we have Sonu Nigam and his super smooth voice skillfully accompanied by Mahalaxmi Iyer, and the entire effect is just divine!

4. Jeeya Dhadak Dhadak Jaaye
Movie: Kalyug
Music Director: Anu Malik (Am not sure of this)
Artist: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan


This is such a simple song, with simple lyrics but it has been rendered with such emotion by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, just like my all time favourite song “Mann ki Lagan” from ‘Paap’. Did you guys know that he is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s nephew? I didn’t till a few weeks ago when I had read an interview of his in the paper.

3. Aadat (original version)
Album: Aadat
Artist: Jal


The manner in which this song starts gives me goose bumps! It just cuts at you! The lead singer has such a raw, powerful voice! I have heard so many versions of this song including one called “Zaheerili Raatein” from either ‘Chocolate’ or ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’. After a while I guess all of us tend to confuse the movies, which Emraan Hashmi has acted in! The guy’s just all over the place! And then there is the remixed version that appears in ‘Kalyug’. Anyway, Jal’s version is the one I like the best. I had that as my caller tune for the longest while. :)

2. Say Na Say Na
Movie: Bluffmaster
Music Director: Vishal-Shekhar
Artist: Aneela Mirza & Arash

Most people feel that the best song from ‘Bluffmaster’ is “Right Here Right Now”. I too like the song a lot, Abhishek Bachchan rapping away, what more can a girl ask for?! ;) But I just looooooooove “Say Na Say Na”. It is one of the most fun songs ever! Aneela Mirza has such a unique voice! However, I did not care much about the song the first time that I heard it. Then suddenly one day I was listening to the radio and doing something else too, when this song played and I was like, “Wow! This song is fantastic!” It would have been my No.1 song had it not been that my No.1 song for 2005 is (hushed silence, with bated breath!): -

1. Dheere Jalna
Movie: Paheli
Music Director: M. M. Kreem (Keeravani)
Artists: Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal


What can I say about this song? My favourite Indian artist, Sonu Nigam, has sung it. And he has been competently accompanied by Shreya Ghoshal. I liked this song as soon as I heard Sonu Nigam sing the first line, “Dheere jalna, dheere jalna, dheere jalna/ zindagi ki lau par jalna”. I was completely in love with this song right then and there! :)) For some expert commentary on this song you can check out Manish’s blog. It has been explained really beautifully there!

Countdown - Part II

14. Dil Jo Bhi Kahey Maane

Movie: Dil Jo Bhi Kahey
Music Director: Shankar-Ehsan-Loy
Artist: Shaan


This is a really fun song! I liked it the moment that I heard it.

13. Piyu Bole
Movie: Parineeta
Music Director: Shantanu Moitra
Artists: Sonu Nigam & Shreya Ghoshal


I had to decide which songs from ‘Parineeta’ I like more, "Piyu Bole" or "Kaisi Yeh Paheli", and the former won hands down! It is such a quaint song. And Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan look so good together; it just adds to the song.

12. I Just Wanna Spend My Life With You
Movie: Neal ‘n’ Nikki
Music: Salim-Sulaiman
Artists: Clinton & Dominique Cerejo


I have not seen this movie yet, not because of all the bad reviews that I had heard from people around me, but because I had no time to watch it. Despite all the bad reviews I still wanna see this movie, I mean, how bad can it really be?! Anyway, however bad this movie may be, the songs are really good. Right from the title track to “Haiyo Haiyo Rabba! I’m in Love”. But the song that I like the best from this movie is “I Just Wanna Spend My Life With You”. I have been told that it plays when the titles roll. This song can put many a boyband to shame! Clinton has such a smooth silky voice, and though the entire song is sung in English, he does not put on a fake Umree-can accent.

11. Huzoor-e-ala
Movie: Page 3
Music Director: Shameer Tandon
Artist: Asha Bhosle


This song scores points with me at once ‘cause the incomparable Asha Bhosle has sung it! Just her presence is enough to send the likeability factor of a song up a few notches. Not only is this song beautifully rendered but it also has a very haunting melody.

10. Naam Adaa Likhna
Movie: Yahaan
Music Director: Shantanu Moitra
Artists: Shaan & Shreya Ghoshal


This is one of those ‘quietly romantic’ songs. No screaming from the roofs about the physical attributes of the loved ones! This song is filled with beautiful symbolism instead.

9. Kahan Ho Tum Mujhe Bataao
Movie: U, Bomzi and Me
Artist: Neeraj Shridhar (Bombay Vikings)


This is another song with a haunting melody. It is just WOW! This one too I liked as soon as I heard it! It is a sad kinda song, but the rhythm is upbeat!

8. Tinka Tinka
Movie: Karam
Music Director: Vishal-Shekhar
Artist: Alisha Chinai


This is one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard. It’s sad that it hasn’t even gotten its due yet. Alisha Chinai has outdone herself in this song.

7. Le Chalein Le Chalein
Movie: My Brother Nikhil
Music Director: Vivek Phillip (Not sure of this either)
Artist: KK


Each time I hear this song I get a bit misty-eyed, because then I remember the movie it is a part of. It is, and should remain, one of the best movies that the Hindi Film Industry has ever made. And this song has been sung so beautifully by KK. There is another version by Sunidhi Chauhan too. But I like the KK version more.

6. Hum Hain Is Pal Yahaan
Movie: Kisna
Music Director: A. R. Rahman
Artists: Udit Narayan & Madhushree


The movie apparently sucked big time, but this song is just beautiful! Another haunting melody.

Countdown Begins

Here’s the list of my favourite songs of 2005. What is so special about this countdown you ask? Well, it’s special because it is mine! :D And as is tradition, I will be working up from No.25 to No.1. So here goes:

25. Tauba Tauba

Movie: Kaal

Music Director: Salim-Sulaiman

Artists: Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Richa Sharma, Kunal Ganjawala

24. My Dil Goes Mmmm…

Movie: Salaam Namaste

Music Director: Shankar-Ehsan-Loy

Artists: Shaan & Gayatri Iyer

23. Woh Lamhey

Album: Aadat

Artist: Jal

I like the slow un-remixed version sung by Jal. I think that it sounds much better. Also, this song took some time to grow on me, and once it did, it has just stuck in my head!

22. Halka Halka Sa Yeh Nasha

Movie: Chocolate

Music Director: Pritam

Artist: Sonu Nigam

21. Saara Jahaan Kahe Ishq Hai Jhoota

Movie: Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena

Music Director: Pritam

Artists: Sunidhi Chauhan

20. Baahon Mein Tu Aaja

Album: 24 Karat

Artist: Raghav Sachar

I liked this song the first time I heard it. It’s a damn good one! And for those who have not heard about Raghav Sachar, here’s a bit of basic info: he is 24 years old and knows how to play 24 musical instruments. And he has composed the music and played all the instruments in the songs that appear on this album.And it also helps that he is quite cute! ;)

19. Aashayien

Movie: Iqbal

Music Director: Salim-Sulaiman

Artists: KK, Salim Merchant

18. Bawra Mann

Movie: Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi

Music Director: Shantanu Moitra

Artist: Shubha Mudgal

17. Kangana (unplugged version)

Artist: DR. ZEUS

I don’t really know the name of the album this song appears on. I like the unplugged version more than the original dhinchak version! :D

16. Tera Intezaar Hai Mujhe Tumse Pyar Hai

Album: Tera Intezaar Hai

Artist: Rahul Vaidya

I had heard this song a number of times on the radio without knowing who had sung it, or if it was in a movie or a private album. I figured it must be Sonu Nigam. But then I saw the music video and it was Rahul Vaidya, the runner up in the last ‘Indian Idol’! One reason that I like Rahul Vaidya is that he sounds sort of like Sonu Nigam. Both of them have really smooooth voices!

15. Mahi Ve, Teri Yaad Aati Hai

Album: Mantra

Artist: Fakir

I’d heard this song too a couple of times before I knew who had sung it, and I was just dying to know who had sung it. It was actually Manish who had passed on this info.