1. Dev D opened the year and for a moment it seemed as if we have a fabulous time ahead. The raw power and acute freshness of this album made many non-conformists look at film music with tongue dripping thirst. Packed with diverse styles, some original mind racking thumps and a common thread of fabulous creativity, Dev D’s innovation had no parallel throughout the year.

Artist: Amit Trivedi

Highlight Songs: Pardesi, Duniya, Emosanal Atyachar

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2. Delhi 6: You just cannot miss A.R. Rahman in a top ten list of any year of this decade. What makes one wonder is the consistency with which he shells out amazing albums each year. Though most of his music has turned out to be highly predictable these days and are not game enough against his earlier hits, that’s not reason enough to undermine a marvelous offering.

Artist: A.R. Rahman

Highlight Songs: Masakali, Dilli-6, Genda Phool

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3. Avial: This Kerala band subsists on the “so well understood yet not so very well followed” paradigm that home grown music should be in the indigenous language, although the genre can be imported from anywhere. With an interesting combination of progressive rock with electronica, turntables and high-energy vocals, Avial defines the Indian rock music for the next decade (“Indian” not for the sake of it by including desi ragas and instruments but in true malyali spirit). Truly exceptional work by bassist Naresh Kamath.

Artist: Avial
Highlight Songs: Nada Nada, Chekele, Karukara

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4. Kaminey: Vishal Bharadwaj returns after three years with film direction and as usual the film music is his own here. He had set high standards for himself after the hit music of Omkara and he has fulfilled all expectations yet again with Kaminey. The album is credited to give the biggest hit of the year “Dhan Te Nan”.

Artist: Vishal Bharadwaj

Highlight Songs: Dhan Te Nan, Pehli Baar Mohabbat

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5. One Point Nothing: Though Intelligent Dance music is relatively an unknown genre in India (given that trance and techno do find many takers here), Jalebee Cartel has taken it to an almost different level with this debut album. What’s most interesting is the fact that this Delhi based electronic group does not deliberately include any Indian influence (either for experimentation or appealing Indian listeners), which many of their predecessors wishfully embraced, and rather stick to pure play IDM genre.

Artist: Jalebee Cartel

Highlight Songs: Blue over Red, Beautiful Rising, Mirrors.

6. Mungaru Male: This is for the biggest Kannada musical hit of the year. Anisutide Yako Indu, sung by Sonu Nigam, is arguably the most popular song from the movie.

Artist: Mano Murthy

Highlight Song: Anisutide Yako Indu

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7. Love Aaj Kal: Love him or hate him, but Pritam has composed some brilliant albums in last few years. His popularity can only be gauged by the fact that last year he composed for not less than fifteen films. And yet, here is a great album again to his credit.

Artist: Pritam Chakraborty

Highlight Songs: Twist, Aahun Aahun, Ajj Din Chadheya

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8. Fitoor marks the return of the erstwhile Silk Route frontman Mohit Chauhan as the solo singer-songwriter after almost a decade of silence. He’s been singing in Bollywood for some time with “Khoon Chala ” of Rang De Basanti giving him a much deserved visibility. Very well crafted, this album woes the fans of pop-rock styled composing of Mohit.

Artist: Mohit Chauhan

Highlight Songs: Fitoor, Challeya

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9. Hello Hello: This third album of Delhi based electronic duo does not stand as tall as their debut, yet it silenced many of their stanch critics who dubbed them either deceased or sold to the UK Indian culture of desi lounge. Surprisingly, they have played well on their rock influences all throughout this album.

Artist: MIDIval Punditz

Highlight Songs: Four Sticks, Desolate, Electric Universe

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10. Wake up Sid: Just five songs (of which one is by Amit Trivedi), this lighthearted movie found a well suited melodious soundtrack composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The trio has maintained their style and has been able to live up to the expectations of Indian music lovers.

Artist: Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Amit trivedi

Highlight Songs: Iktara, Kya Karoon, Wake up Sid