2014 Best of Tamil Music

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Note: Albums released December 2013 till the end of November 2014

Best Tamil Songs of 2014

Most of the songs selected for the top 30 excelled in one or more of these three areas: Novelty (Idhayam, Velai Illa Pattadhari, Athangara Orathil), Beauty (Thuli Thuliyay, Puthiya Ulagai, Manasula Soora Kathey), and/or Orchestration (Yaar, Enge Ponai, Yaarumilla). Tough list to curate, since 2014 was amazing.

Youtube Playlist:

Saavn Playlist:

Listen to Best Tamil 2014 Songs on Saavn

Best Songs of 2014

  1. Puthiya Ulagai – Yennamo Yedho – D. Imman – Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5IH7Cv4Es)
  2. Idhayam – Kochadaiyaan – A. R. Rahman – Srinivas, Chinmayi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2xRJB0dkMY)
  3. Thuli Thuliyay – Ramanujan – Ramesh Vinayagam – Ramesh Vinayagam, Kaushiki Chakraborty (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFe1_urFInM)
  4. Velai Illa Pattadhari – Velai Illa Pattadhari – Anirudh Ravichander – Anirudh Ravichander (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkGIpfe4V10)
  5. Kannukul Pothaivappen – Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah – M. Ghibran – Vijay Prakash, Sadhana Sargam, Charulatha Mani, Dr. R. Ganesh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGTG9n1tGnk)
  6. Manasula Soora Kaathey – Cuckoo- Santhosh Narayanan – RR (Sean Roldan), Divya Ramani (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsHgB980-A)
  7. Un Vizhigalil – Darling – G. V. Prakash Kumar-  Harini (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLDoJOymfl8)
  8. Needhane – Theigidi – Nivas K Prasanna (debut composer)- Shankar Mahadevan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHYmi7T494)
  9. Yaar – Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe – Madley Blues – Nandini Srikar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spi9d5tZMpw)
  10. Enge Ponai – Jeeva – D. Imman – S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik5rli-YqDE)
  11. Yaarumilla – Kaaviya Thalaivan – A. R. Rahman – Shweta Mohan, Srinivas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idZ-5amTsHA)
  12. Mounam Paesum – Amara Kaaviyam – M. Ghibran – K. S. Chithra, Sowmya Mahadevan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaYgNwPaQfI)
  13. Saridhaana Saridhaana – Amara Kaaviyam – M. Ghibran – Thomson Andrews, Yazin Nizar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ZmRTFFNng)
  14. Aye Mr. Minor – Kaaviya Thalaivan – A. R. Rahman – Shashaa Tirupathi, Haricharan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iubW7XdzT6U)
  15. Odum Rayile – Oru Oorla Rendu Raja – D. Imman – Abhay Jodhpurkar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVR-5AX1JZY)
  16. Yaar – Enakkul Oruvan – Santhosh Narayanan – Dhibu Ninan Thomas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuit-AdnJSs)
  17. Isai Veesi – Isai – S. J. Surya – Chinmayi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJVcE5WL7Y)
  18. Unnale – Darling – G. V. Prakash Kumar – Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hKYK43Jct8)
  19. Vinkadantha – Ramanujan – Ramesh Vinayagam – Unnikrishnan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AB5dcEtAs)
  20. Gnayiru Dhinangalin – Poovarasam Peepee – Arul Dev – Abhay Jodhpurkar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AVoS4Jp_Xk)
  21. Yaarum Paakaama – Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe – Madley Blues – Chinmayi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_D58zPLl18)
  22. Munne Yen Munne – Sathuranga Vettai – Sean Roldan – Sathya Prakash Dharmar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaC-2YG2Msg)
  23. Aathangara Orathil – Yaan  – Harris Jayaraj – Gaana Bala, MC Vickey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUSV8MCOLY)
  24. Aathi – Kaththi – Anirudh Ravichander – Vishal Dadlani (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtXzmvF6P4)
  25. Entharaa Entharaa – Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah – M. Ghibran – Shadab Faridi, Chinmayi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3QJK08EzQ)
  26. Idhu Enna – Mundasupatti – Sean Roldan – Haricharan, Kalyani Nair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as4wNG_OX6w)
  27. Kadhala Kadhala – Sathuranga Vettai – Sean Roldan – Kalyani Nair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D10zShwWEn0)
  28. Yaar Ezhudhiyadho – Thegidi – Nivas K. Prasanna – Sathya Prakash Dharmar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-hL7YSLXRw)
  29. Ambala Singam – Mundasupatti – Sean Roldan – Sean Roldan, Haricharan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21VJqMZOe9M)
  30. Otrai Devathai – Vallavanukkum Pullum Aayudham – Siddharth Vipin – Karthik (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAwLA-0k6s)

Best Tamil Albums of 2014

Amazing singers, combined with impeccable orchestration, and strong classical melodies in Ramanujan edged out the funky Enakkul Oruvan, the old-school Kaaviya Thalaivan, the melodic Thegidi, and the spiritual Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah. After that, 6-10 really could be placed in any order, they were all phenomenal as well. 2014 truly was one of the best years for Tamil music ever and it was tough to even cull a top 20. We encourage readers to go through the monthly lists and listen to the top 5 albums from each month to build their collections.

  1. Ramanujan – Ramesh Vinayagam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFe1_urFInM)
  2. Enakkul Oruvan – Santhosh Narayanan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huzfDI5P55E&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6Fl4vHF5UhMGiEEL9xebuYq)
  3. Kaaviya Thalaivan – A. R. Rahman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iubW7XdzT6U&list=PLtDlXfEqOhEACKBCRvq93IReCE4AQPZ1D)
  4. Thegidi – Nivas K. Prasanna (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-hL7YSLXRw&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6E9kwarihko33xMgd4JCzQm)
  5. Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah – M. Ghibran (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExMHFKamAe4&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6Hf6atqcJ2JiK7JYC-hUujF)
  6. Jeeva – D. Imman (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtDlXfEqOhEAOu_vZKYNiHX0stwJf-yeH)
  7. Amara Kaaviyam  – M. Ghibran (http://www.saavn.com/p/album/tamil/Amarakaaviyam-2014/0CBXjaZq6lM_)
  8. Cuckoo – Santhosh Narayanan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsHgB980-A&list=PLz–fPJa8ZhRCgbVBxmStxITxyDgSogCE)
  9. Mundasupatti – Sean Roldan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZNIzoeKoIE&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6GsWzyzr7Bne4ylOyJuTvbP)
  10. Kochadaiyaan – A. R. Rahman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjXayaU-8po&list=PL466SuZVGVy4IRLYRi1EGSQTb-2SeiTGt)
  11. Oru Oorla Rendu Raja – D. Imman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgw42GLtFV8)
  12. Darling – G. V. Prakash Kumar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3FQW1mrSD4)
  13. Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe – Madley Blues (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMZhLTPLek&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6Ffz-_F6hoj4_iOB77E43V3)
  14. Sathuranga Vettai – Sean Roldan (http://www.saavn.com/p/album/tamil/Sathuranka-Vettai-2014/IEJHPn,9jls_)
  15. Madras – Santhosh Narayanan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnis2fXFvU&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6ETuAGYptvQ-lZXL6QpZhxS)
  16. Jigarthanda – Santhosh Narayanan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8dPg9Wu-Pc&list=PLnO8uDr9uT6Gbugs29lOuecQiK_JcY4b9)
  17. Vaayai Moodi Pesavum – Sean Roldan (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnO8uDr9uT6FZZjavkO87Oe3bA2YSFiSl)
  18. Kayal – D. Imman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtE2b5NYpBA&list=PLtDW0XO4GzxgCUq532LJNLzyw6ZINMSyi)
  19. Kaththi – Anirudh Ravichander (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHPcU49i-DI)
  20. Anjaan – Yuvan Shankar Raja (http://www.saavn.com/p/album/tamil/Anjaan-2014/8fT3q02dgSE_)

Best Tamil Composers of 2014

Santhosh Narayanan did not flinch all year, breaking the envelope with every album and even crushing it on the charts. His frequent collaborator, Sean Roldan did a phenomenal job as well, debuting this year with 4 albums with his signature country-folk-blues with a hint of carnatic flavor. D. Imman came in strong with one of the best albums of the year (Jeeva) as well as a few other solid albums (Yennamo Yedho, Oru Oorlu Rendu Raja, Kayal, and Ennathan Pesuvatho). Ghibran mesemerized with TEN and continued to impress with Amara Kaaviyam. Rahman had some great songs in his albums, and put away contenders like Yuvan Shankar Raja, Anirudh and GVP with some phenomenal songs in Kochadaiyaan and Kaaviya Thalaivan.

  1. Santhosh Narayanan (Cuckoo, Madras, Enakkul Oruvan, Jigarthanda)
  2. D. Imman (Ennathan Pesuvatho, Jeeva, Yennamo Yedho, Oru Oorla Rendu Raja, Kayalm Tenaliraman)
  3. Sean Roldan (Mundasupatti, Aadama Jaichomada, Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, Sathuranga Vettai)
  4. M. Ghibran (Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah, Amara Kaaviyam)
  5. A. R. Rahman (Kaaviya Thalaivan, Kochadaiyaan, I, Lingaa)

 

Best Debut Composers of 2014

All these guys are solid. Sean Roldan of course skyrocketed to the best composer list this year on the back of four solid albums. Nivas K. Prasanna’s Thegidi was probably the best overall debut album. Sivamani (Arima Nambi), Vivek-Mervin (Vadacurry), and S. N. Prasad (Yaamirukka Bayame) were all great too. Particularly excited about Sivamani’s masterful percussion in Arima Nambi and Vivek-Mervin’s great use of qawwali and dubstep in Vadacurry. No surprise that one of the best years for Tamil Music, ever, has some of the most exciting composers debuting.

  1. Sean Roldan (Mundasupatti, Aadama Jaichomada, Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, Sathuranga Vettai)
  2. Nivas K. Prasanna (Thegidi)
  3. Sivamani (Arima Nambi)
  4. Vivek-Mervin (Vadacurry)
  5. S. N. Prasad (Yaamirukka Bayame)

 

Best Dubbed Songs of 2014

Vishal-Shekhar take the cake here. Wonder when they’ll start composing in Tamil like their competitors Himesh Reshammiya and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

  1. Teri Galliyan – Ek Villain – Ankit Tiwari – Aman Trikha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpWYJzYKMpA)
  2. Indiawaale – Happy New Year – Vishal-Shekhar – Shankar Mahadevan, Rajiv Sundaresan, Raman Mahadevan, Keerthi Sagathia, Neeti Mohan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em2wza7FpIU)
  3. Manwa Laage – Happy New Year – Vishal-Shekhar – R Vijay Prakash, Kalyaani R Pillai, Shilpa Chadha, Mridula Naik, Neeti Mohan, Keya Dutta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em2wza7FpIU)
  4. Bang Bang – Bang Bang – Vishal-Shekhar – Benny Dayal, Neeti Mohan
  5. Satakli – Happy New Year – Vishal-Shekhar – Keerthi Sagathia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em2wza7FpIU)
  6. En Kaiyil – Bang Bang – Vishal-Shekhar – Benny Dayal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_lPYZVpPb8)
  7. Scooter Vandi (Sethey Ponendi) – Mahabalipuram – K – OG Dass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A_XB8iNyxk – remake of OG Dass’s “Scooter Vandi”)
  8. Baby Doll – Ragini MMS 2 – Meet Bros Anjjan – Khushbu Jain, Saket (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6xDF2-U7uI)
  9. Pavanmaai (Meherbaan) – Bang Bang – Vishal-Shekhar – Ash King, Anusha Mani (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzg94lx5YFo)
  10. Lovely – Happy New Year – Dr. Zeus – Hamsika Iyer, Rajiv Sundaresan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em2wza7FpIU)

8 thoughts on “2014 Best of Tamil Music”

  1. I feel that IR’s un samayal arayil and ARR’s lingaa are better than anjaan…The only good track in anjaan was oru kanjadai IMO…kadhal aasai had great music but was spoiled by substandard singing…bang bang was backgroundish at best…ek do theen and sirippu were bad IMHO…also heard that U1’s upcoming album has leaked online and heard some great opinions about them…

    Reply

      • @ Mugesh
        Ramesh-No,it is not a good album, but I find anjaan a worser album than that…It IMO does not deserve to be in the list of good albums…but I haven’t asked the reviewer to consult ENT…I am just expressing my dissapointment on finding a substandard album in top 20 when better albums are out…

    • Lingaa was quite a bad album, and unfortunately for IR, D. Imman channels the IR sound without sounding anachronistic. Other contenders would have been Aadama Jeichomada by Sean Roldan, Kangaroo by Srinivas, Poovarasam Peepee by Arul Dev, Ennathan Pesuvatho by D. Imman, Kaadu by K, and Burma by Sudharshan M. Kumar.

      Reply

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