Meri Nimmo (Hindi)
Despite his tepid career trajectory, composer Krsna (who now goes by the name Krsna Solo) has been fairly consistent in producing good music across the years even beyond his trophy-work – the two Tanu Weds Manu films. So, the completely ignored and under-rated Cute Kameena in 2016 and last year's Mirza Juuliet (don't miss Asees Kaur sung Tukda Tukda!) keep his body of work chugging. His latest is Meri Nimmo, the Eros-original film produced by Anand L Rai. Krsna's two songs in the soundtrack (of just 3 songs, the 3rd composed by Mangesh Dhakde) have lyrics by Raj Shekhar, the composer's partner for many songs. Both the songs, Bulbula and Yeh Bhi Beet Jayega, continue Krsna's waltzy and dreamy sound he used in Tanu Weds Manu Returns' Old School Girl. His singers, Paroma Dasgupta and Sukriti Kakkar, steal the show with stellar vocals. Mangesh's song, Tumse hi, though is a bit too maudlin. Hope Aur Hum (Hindi)
The Hope Aur Hum trailer did look intriguingly fun. The film's title song released last week. Bhoomi Trivedi and Suraj Jagan handle the singing well and even as composer Rupert Fernandes's sound is genial pop, the song sounds merely background'ish.
Naa Peru Surya (Telugu)
Moving to Telugu music, composing duo Vishal-Shekhar's 2nd Telugu soundtrack released this week. The Allu Arjun-starrer, Naa Peru Surya is a typically likeable material from the composers. The title song, with its energetic sound and Vishal's singing (and just the O Sainika refrain sounding distantly like Anu Malik's Ishq song, 'Humko Tumse Pyar Hai') is a great listen. In Beautiful Love, the duo transplant their dependable ballad'ish sound to Telugu. In Armaan Malik and Chaitra Ambadipudi's singing, the melody shines beautifully and I won't be surprised if the tune isn't reused for Hindi film! Iraga Iraga is another winner where the duo prove that they can bring the floor down in style producing a manic kuthu number, rivaling Southern composers!
Mr. Chandramouli (Tamil)
In Tamil film music, composer Sam C.S. released his new soundtrack, Mr. Chandramouli. There is a lot of nostalgia tied to that name, carried from Mani Ratnam's Mouna Raagam and considering that film's cameo-winner actor Karthik features in this film too (with his son Gautham Karthik playing the lead), the makers do add a nostalgia-tinged song, Rajaadhi Raja. Sam tries to layer it with sounds (and snatches of lyrics from Karthik's iconic Agni Natchathiram song, Raaja Raajathi Raajan) from the late 80s, but the generic tune doesn't quite hit the mark. The composer does far better in 3 other songs – Kallooliye, where glitzy music jumps excitedly at places to complement Sam's own and Swagatha's fantastic singing, Yedhedho Aanene, with spectacular guitar work, a tantalizing rhythm, and Sam and Chinmayi's singing for the engaging melody, and the title theme, with its waltz'ish backdrop and actors Suriya and Karthi's sister Brindha's adept singing debut. Aravindante Athithikal (Malayalam)
Finally, from Kerala, we have composer Shaan Rahman introducing a new singer, Megha Josekutty, in the song Endhe Kanna from the film Aravindante Athithikal. The song has Shaan's signature ambient sound and the melody—that seems like a mix of Madhyamavathi and Brindavana Saranga raagas—provides ample opportunity for the debutant to showcase her fantastic singing!