Best Kannada Songs Of 2018, Ranked

10. 'Eega Thaane Jaariyagide'

Ananthu V/s Nusrath

Music director: Sunaad Gowtham

Ananthu v/s Nusrath is easily, composer Sunaad Gowtham's breakout project. 'Eega Thaane Jaariyagide' is a waltz'y, dreamy melody that gains a lot from Vijay Prakash's singing and the thoroughly engaging music.

09. 'Haniye Haniye'

8MM Bullet

Music director: Judah Sandhy

There are two Judah Sandy albums that's worth a listen this year. 8MM Bullet is a remake of the Tamil film, 8 Thottakkal, which really didn't have any scope for songs. 'Haniye' is Judah Sandhy in his irresistible Chamak form. The song's melody is oh-so-beautiful, and Judah pulls off Sanjith Hegde-style singing himself, along with a phenomenal Shreya Sundar Iyer. The Coldplay'ish chorus is entrancing, as is the lovely violin interlude.

08. 'Jeevana Kali (Sagu Sagu)'

Idam Premam Jeevanam

Music director: Judah Sandhy

Composer Judah Sandhy produced a knock-out last year, with Chamak. Apart from 8MM Bullet he followed it up this year with Idam Premam Jeevanam as well, though Thayige Thakka Maga (his third album) was a disappointment. In 'Jeevana Kali', Judah's tune is really good, nuanced and highly melodious. What transforms the song beyond that likeable tune is Shashank Seshagiri's highly involved vocals. The use of sitar (sounded like sitar to me) is a great touch too.

07. 'Rangeride'

Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial

Music director: Ajaneesh Loknath

Though not as impressive as his other Kannada release,  Ajaneesh Loknath's still managed to include one excellent song in Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial. The song has a distinct Thaman-sensibility, not to take anything away from Ajaneesh. This song is very catchy with some great singing by Puneeth Rajkumar and CR Bobby.

06. 'Jaleela'

Ambi Ning Vayassaytho

Music director: Arjun Janya

Ambi Ning Vayassaytho was a remake of the Tamil film Power Paandi, which had outstanding music by Sean Roldan. Arjun doesn't scale that brilliance, but does produce a very competent soundtrack. 'Jaleela' is the Kannada 'Veesum Kaathodadhaan' equivalent. Written by director Prem, the song is a veritable eulogy for Ambareesh, who passed away recently. It features Ambareesh's iconic characters like Jaleela (Naagarahaavu) and Kanwar Lal (Antha). Arjun's tune is breezy and a lovely listen, with a great chorus.

05. 'Nana Mele Nanageega'

Kannadakkagi Ondannu Otti

Music director: Arjun Janya

Arjun Janya continues to be the busiest composer in Kannada cinema. But he seems more interested in by-the-numbers music, including a steady flow of Charan-starrers and big-ticket masala films such as The Villain (which I found underwhelming, musically). He does take time to produce the occasional gem like Kannadakkagi Ondannu Otti, the Kannada remake of the Tamil film, Tamizhukku En Ondrai Azhuthavum. Even though 'Nana Mele Nanageega' has strong traces of Rahman's Rhythm number 'Kaatre En Vaasal', the melody comes into its own with Sonu Nigam's scintillating vocals and the serenely sound Arjun creates. The song's Shreya Ghoshal version, 'Ommomme Nannannu', is equally good.

04. 'Shaakuntle Sikkalu'

Naduve Antaravirali

Music director: Manikanth Kadri

The other multi-lingual composer who has dabbled in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu is Manikanth Kadri. His lone Kannada soundtrack this year is a great listen. He ropes in the hottest Kannada singer (and Tamil too!) this year, Sanjith Hegde, for 'Shaakuntle Sikkalu'. Sanjith's dreamy voice, the waltz'y melody sounds delightful, with a soft lilt that is immediately addictive.

03. 'Dheemtha'

Katheyondu Shuruvagide

Music director: Sachin Warrier

Singer-turned-composer Sachin Warrier is going multi-lingual. After his brief Malayalam sojourn, he surprises with a brilliant four-song soundtrack for Katheyondu Shuruvagide. 'Dheemtha' starts with a hat-tip to another song in the soundtrack—'Bhoomi Baana'—as a prelude, before moving to Deepak Doddera's lead vocals, with the really catchy 'Manase manase' phrase. When Sangeetha Ravindranath joins in what is an unusually tangential tune in the anu pallavi, she picks up the phrase, and both the singers join to close it in a warm union.

02. 'Mental Ho Jawa'

Tagaru

Music director: Charan Raj MR

Composer Charan Raj's award-winning music for Jeer Jimbe released only late this year. Before that, he had a spectacular mainstream soundtrack for Tagaru. 'Mental Ho Jawa' is a curiously interesting concoction. Charan blends a lot of things into a heady mix – Ananya Bhat's 'Mental Ho Jawa' hook, a semi-classical or faux-classical anu pallavi and a steadily catchy and funky disco'ish background. It all works quite well in Charan's confident direction.

01. 'Hosa Padmavathi'

Johny Johny Yes Papa

Music direcotor: Ajaneesh Loknath

Composer Ajaneesh Loknath is literally going places — Nimir in Tamil, Nannu Dochukunduvate in Telugu and this kick-ass song in Kannada. It's easily the catchiest Kannada song I've heard this year. Superb horns, an addictive 'Colour Colour' hook and fantastic singing by Vijay Prakash and Indu Nagaraj.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm0Wj5jhRL0