More than the films, it’s the music which is a bigger disaster for Hindi cinema this year. An open request to Bollywood and music companies – Please don’t ruin old hits and for god’s sake, don’t include them in every single movie for your promotion’s sake! Let more original music be produced and encourage composers like Amit Trivedi.

In those limited original albums, these were the 4 best I found in 2017. This list considers best soundtracks (songs + background score). It’s the music scored for the entire film.

Hindi

4. Rangoon

Keeping the result of the film aside, Rangoon had some quirky and different music by Vishal Bharadwaj. Bloody Hell, Ye ishq hai (Both Arijit and Rekha Bharadwaj’s versions) .. Two completely different songs and beautiful in their own way and Tippa was fun.

3. Jab Harry met Sejal

“Safar” is one of my favourite songs of 2017. For its lyrics by Irshad Kamil and Arijit, it’s special. This one song defined the travelling and finding inner self which is the most used theme in Imtiaz Ali’s films. Hawayein was beautiful. Radha was that fun song. Beech Beech Mein and Phurr by Diplo were addictive. Overall, one of the best albums of Pritam with a wide variety of songs.

2. Secret Superstar

From the innocent breakup song, “I’ll miss you” to “Main kaun hoon”, Amit Trivedi and lyricist Kausar Munir filled Secret Superstar with beautiful songs. Meri Pyaari ammi, Nachidi Phira and Sapne Re.. Every song is special. Ok, may be except Sexy Baliye :p But, that’s also fun.

1. Jagga Jasoos

Galti se Mistake, Ulla ka Pattha are the obvious favourites/hits. But what makes Jagga Jasoos soundtrack magical is the conversational songs. In Basu’s crazy vision to make a musical in adventure genre in India, Pritam played an important role to create music in not just bits and pieces but throughout. There are hardly any dialogues but filled with these conversational songs. It’s a mad yet huge task and Pritam lived up to it. My favourite ones are “Sab khana kha ke daaru pee ke chale gaye” and the one with Saurabh Shukla which comes in trailer (Tukka laga). It is, for sure, the best soundtrack of the year. I hope they release the OST soon.

Telugu

5. Ninnu Kori

All the tracks from this album from Gopi Sunder are special. Topped by “Adiga Adiga” by Sid Sriram followed by Unnattundi gundey and others, Ninnu Kori was musically good.

4. Fidaa

From that absolutely addictive Telangana folk song, Vachinde to Oosupodu, Fidaa’s soundtrack by Shaktikanth Karthick had quite a good mix of variety of songs.

3. Hello!

Anup Rubens’ 50th film had some good songs. That violin portion in “Anaganaga oka ooru” was so beautiful. The melodies in the soundtrack had the same effect as those from Manam. Simple yet beautiful. Other good tracks – Title song and Thalachi Thalachi.

2. Bahubali 2

More than the songs, it’s the grand background score by M.M. Keeravani which took Bahubali 2 to another level. Themes of Devasena, Heysa Rudrassa, Nippule Swasaga (while Kattappa is killing Bahubali) and more..  Songs – Oka Pranam, Dandalayya, Saahore Bahubali were the best among others.

1. Arjun Reddy

Arjun Reddy’s music did what Pelli Choopulu did last year. Brought the fusion of classical music with modern sounds. “Madhurame” is the best example for this. Tough to pick a favourite. Break up song, Emitemito, Oopiri aagutunnadey.. All of them were equally good. A very special mention to the beautiful melody, “Gundelonaa”, one of those rare songs to include acapella (just vocals) in film music after Raasathi from Thiruda Thiruda. And on top of all these, who can forget that raging background score!

Special Mention : 

Vunnadi okate Zindagi

Good album from DSP. Rayyi Rayyi mantu, Trendu marina and the popular What amma are the good ones.

And…..

Kaatru Veliyidai

I can’t end this list without Rahman. I just can’t. Something I wrote about the music when the film released – “While writing this, I wanted to mention my favourite track from the film and started recollecting all the songs. Is it the beautiful “Nallai Allai”? Heavenly melody “Vaan”? Insanely addictive “Azhagiye”? Full on wedding feel of “Saarattu Vandiyila”? Electric “Jugni”? or the quirky tango one? I give up. I can’t choose. The favourite changes every week/month.” And it still holds true.

Few individual tracks which were really good :

Enna Sona – Ok Jaanu

Ik Vaari Aa – Raabta

Sahiba – Phillauri

Roke na Ruke – Badrinath ki Dulhania

Yaanji – Vikram Vedha (Tamil)

Zaalima – Raees

Aalaporan Tamizhan – Mersal (Tamil)

Anbin Kodi – Aruvi (Tamil)

What were your favourites? Let me know in the comments. Wishing you a happy new year 🙂