We are pretty sure most of us wouldn’t have kept track of the number of Tamil albums that have released this year. Considering the steady influx of soundtrack releases all through the year, it’s quite possible that even a hard-core music listener would have missed listening to few really good songs. As the year draws to a close, we have asked three critics – Siddarth Srinivas, Kaushik LM and Surendhar MK – to pick their personal top 25 Tamil songs of 2016. Despite few mutual choices, our curated lists have a variety of interesting songs that we believe to be a new addition to your soon-to-listen playlists.
With this, Only Kollywood’s year-end round-up series begins. Stay tuned for the 10 Best Albums of 2016 piece tomorrow.
Note: Lists contain songs of movies that released in the year 2016 only. For example, good tracks from albums like Nenjam Marappathillai and Kootathil Oruthan will not find a place since the movies are yet to see the light of day.
Order: Song Name | Film Name | Composer | Singers | Lyrics
Siddarth Srinivas’s Top 25 Songs of 2016: Follow @SidhuWrites
1. Thalli Pogathey | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Sid Sriram, Aparna Narayanan, ADK | Thamarai
2. Halena | Iru Mugan | Harris Jayaraj | Christopher Stanley, Abhay Jodhpurkar & Ujjayinee Roy | Madhan Karky
3. Thalakaalu Puriyalaiye | Kidaaari | Darbuka Shiva | Anitha K, Velmurugan | Mohanrajan
4. Rasaali | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Sathya Prakash, Shashaa Tirupathi | Thamarai
5. Aval | Manithan | Santhosh Narayanan | Pradeep & Priya Hemesh | Vivek
6. Makka Kalanguthappa | Dharmadurai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Mathichiyam Bala | Mathichiyam Bala
7. Ei Suzhali | Kodi | Santhosh Narayanan | Vijaynarain | Vivek
8. Hey Mama | Sethupathi | Nivas K Prasanna | Anirudh Ravichander, Blaaze | Na Muthukumar, Blaaze
9. Kannukkulla | Kadalai | Sam CS | Sam CS & Nincy | Sam CS & Ma Ka Pa Anandh
10. Neruppu Da | Kabali | Santhosh Narayanan | Arunraja Kamaraj, Rajinikanth | Arunraja Kamaraj
11. Chalmaar | Devi | Sajid-Wajid | Benny Dayal | Na Muthukumar
12. Ey Sandakaara | Irudhi Suttru | Santhosh Narayanan | Dhee | Vivek
13. Chellamma | Joker | Sean Roldan | K Perumal, Sean Roldan, M Lalitha Sudha | Ramesh Vaidya
14. Adiyae Azhagae | Oru Naal Koothu | Justin Prabhakaran | Sean Roldan, Padmalatha | Vivek
15. Nenjorathil | Pichaikkaran | Vijay Antony | Supriya Joshi | Annamalai
16. Nee Kidaithai | Chennai 28 Part II | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Haricharan, Chinmayi Sripada | Niranjan Bharathi
17. Remo Nee Kadhalan | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Anirudh Ravichander | Vignesh Shivn
18. Un Kadhal Irundhal Podhum | Kavalai Vendam | Leon James | Armaan Malik & Shashaa Tirupati | Ko Sesha
19. Thavazhnthidum Thangapoove | Veera Sivaji | D Imman | Bombay Jayashri | Aravi
20. Kanna Kaattu Podhum | Rekka | D Imman | Shreya Ghoshal | Yugabharathi
21. Thanimaye | Aarathu Sinam | SS Thaman | Vijay Yesudas, Karthik | Viveka
22. Mohini | Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai | GV Prakash | Sathya Prakash | Thamarai
23. Azhagae Nee Asainthal | Kathakali | Hiphop Tamizha | Hiphop Tamizha | Hiphop Tamizha
24. Veredhuvum Nijamae Illai | Zero | Nivas K Prasanna | Anirudh Ravichander | Madhan Karky
25. Kirukka | Unnodu Kaa | C Sathya | Gowry Lekshmi | Sarathy
Kaushik LM’s Top 25 Songs of 2016: Follow @Lmkmoviemaniac
1. Avalum Naanum | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Vijay Yesudas | Pavendar Bharathidasan
2. Ola Ola Kudisayila | Joker | Sean Roldan | Murugavel, Karthika Vaidyanathan | Yuga Bharathi
3. Kaathu Veesudhu Kaathu | Kidaari | Darbuka Siva | Darbuka Siva, Gowtham Bharadwaj | Mohanrajan
4. Rasaali | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Sathya Prakash, Shashaa Tirupathi | Thamarai
5. Poda Poda | Irudhi Suttru | Santhosh Narayanan | Pradeep Kumar | Vivek
6. Showkali | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | STR, Aditya Rao, Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Sri Raskol | Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Vignesh Shivan, Sri Raskol
7. Mannar Mannan Theme | Joker | Sean Roldan | Rani | Yuga bharathi
8. Neruppu Da | Kabali | Santhosh Narayanan | Arunraja Kamaraj, Rajinikanth | Arunraja Kamaraj
9. Shoot The Kili & Kuruvi | Jil Jung Juk | Vishal Chandrasekhar | Siddharth (Kili) Anirudh Ravichander, Radha Ravi (Kuruvi) | Siddharth (Kili), Vivek (Kuruvi)
10. Sirikkadhey | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Arjun Kanungo & Srinidhi Venkatesh | Vignesh ShivN
11. Senjitaley | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Anirudh Ravichander | Vignesh Shivn
12. Vaadi En Tamilselvi | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Nakash Aziz | Vignesh ShivN
13. The Boys Are Back | Chennai 28 Part II | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Vasuki Bhaskar, Bhavatharini, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Madurai Souljour | Karunakaran
14. Idhu Kadhaiya | Chennai 28 Part II | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Sean Roldan, Khareshma Ravichandran | Parthi Bhaskar
15. Maya Nadhi | Kabali | Santhosh Narayanan | Ananthu, Pradeep Kumar, Swetha Mohan | Uma Devi
16. Thalli Pogathey | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Sid Sriram, Aparna Narayanan, ADK | Thamarai
17. Aval | Manithan | Santhosh Narayanan | Pradeep & Priya Hemesh | Vivek
18. Maya Visai | Irudhi Suttru | Santhosh Narayanan | Vijaynarain, Sri Shyamalangan, Santhosh Narayanan | Vivek
19. Kannai Vittu | Iru Mugan | Harris Jayaraj | Tipu, Pravin Saivi & Srimathumitha | Karky
20. Halena | Iru Mugan | Harris Jayaraj | Christopher Stanley, Abhay Jodhpurkar & Ujjayinee Roy | Karky
21. Mirutha Mirutha | Miruthan | D Imman | Shreya Ghoshal & Vijay Yesudas | Karky
22. Dub Theri Step | Theri | GV Prakash | Arunraja Kamaraj | Arunraja Kamaraj
23. Horrifying Zombies Theme | Miruthan | D Imman
24. My Twin Brother | 24 | AR Rahman | Srinivasa Krishnan, Hriday Gattani | Vikram Kumar
25. Aandipatti | Dharmadurai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Senthildass, Surmukhi | Vairamuthu
Surendhar MK’s Top 25 Songs of 2016: Follow @SurendharMK
1. Chellamma | Joker | Sean Roldan | K Perumal, Sean Roldan, M Lalitha Sudha | Ramesh Vaidya
2. Vandiyile Nellu Varum | Kidaari | Darbuka Siva | Anthony Dasan | Anthony Daasan, Ekadesi
3. Paaruruvaaya | Thaarai Thappattai | Ilaiyaraja | D. Sathyaprakash, Surmukhi | Maanikkavaasagar (Thiruvasagam)
4. Naan Un | 24 | AR Rahman | Arijit Singh, Chinmayi | Madhan Karky
5. Ey Sandakaara | Irudhi Suttru | Santhosh Narayanan | Dhee | Vivek
6. Maalai Nerathu Mayakkama | Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam | Amrit | Amrit | Amrit
7. Rasaali | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Sathya Prakash, Shashaa Tirupathi | Thamarai
8. Poi Vaada | Dharmadurai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Srimathumitha | Vairamuthu
9. Kannamma | Rekka | D Imman | Nandini Srikar | Yugabharathi
10. Avalum Naanum | Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada | AR Rahman | Vijay Yesudas | Pavendar Bharathidasan
11. Ola Ola Kudisayila | Joker | Sean Roldan | Murugavel, Karthika Vaidyanathan | Yuga Bharathi
12. Red Road-U | Jil Jung Juk | Vishal Chandrasekhar | Santhosh Narayanan, Sean Roldan, Vishal Chandrashekhar | Deeraj Vaidy
13. Un Kadhal Irundhal Podhum Reprise | Kavalai Vendam | Leon James | Vandana Srinivasan | Ko Sesha
14. Dhusta | Iraivi | Santhosh Narayanan | Meenakshi & Dhee | Vivek
15. Kaantha | Uriyadi | Masala Coffee | Sooraj Santhosh & Varun Sunil | GKB
16. Vaanam Paarthen | Kabali | Santhosh Narayanan | Pradeep Kumar | Kabilan
17. Adiyae Azhagae | Oru Naal Koothu | Justin Prabhakaran | Sean Roldan, Padmalatha | Vivek
18. Sirikkadhey | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Arjun Kanungo & Srinidhi Venkatesh | Vignesh ShivN
19. Kannamma Reprise | Ko 2 | Leon James | Salim Merchant | Na. Muthukumar
20. Aval | Manithan | Santhosh Narayanan | Pradeep & Priya Hemesh | Vivek
21. Thaimai | Theri | G V Prakash Kumar | Bombay Jayashree | Pulavar Pulamaipithan
22. Sirukki Vaasam | Kodi | Santhosh Narayanan | Anand Aravindakshan & Shweta Mohan | Vivek
23. Nenjukkulla Ninnu Kittu | Kidaari | Darbuka Siva | Sanjana Kalmanje | Ekadesi
24. Hey Mama | Sethupathi | Nivas K Prasanna | Anirudh Ravichander, Blaaze | Na Muthukumar, Blaaze
25. Yaaro Petha Pillai | Aandavan Kattalai | K | Anthony Daasan | S. Gnanagaravel