2004 - Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities [No contest - one of the best Hindi film albums ever composed, period; Swades second].
2003 - Armaan [Not a popular pick, but to me it's SEL's most mature and satisfying work to date].
2002 - Devdas [A stunning album].
2001 - Zubeidaa [I feel myself transported everytime I listen to this CD; "Mehndi Hai Rachnewali" is magical].
2000 - Refugee [Anu Malik isn't one of my favorites, but I have to admit that this one is simply breath-taking in its purity].
1999 - Taal + Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam [I feel Rahman's work here is a tad overrated, but still one of the greats. Meanwhile, a few choice tracks from Darbar's album are quite good. Not one of the great years for music].
1998 - Dil Se.. [Once again, no contest. What a marvel that despite listening to each track at least 500 times each, the rhythm stays fresh and lingering].
1997 - ?
1996 - ?
1995 - Rangeela and Bombay [Rahman's explosion into Hindi cinema; the music for these films couldn't be any more different, but they still have lasting effects.
Honorable Mention - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Before you dismiss me as a Rahman whore, let me say that I have lots of favorite albums from other composers. But every year, he just seems to create a soundtrack that is so whole, complete and transcendental that it's impossible to ignore him.

I second Subhas Chandra Bose as the best thing so far this year. I have a feeling that Rahman will dominate my top ten list again.[/i]

I like to believe this for Kal Ho Naa Ho when it comes to SEL, and although it is quite popular(essentially because of the Johar-Khan connection), and deservingly so. Listening to "Pretty Women" tuned to loud base on my car stereo, is no less of a great effect than a Jay-Z/Beyonce feature "Crazy In Love".

That year, I was almost convinced that this was unquestionably one of the greatest Bollywood film album ever. Today, for odd reasons, I can't seem to bring myself back to it. I guess, I'm just a bit disturbed to hear that Ismail Durbar comment on his superiority over A.R. Rahman.

It's simultaneously Hypnotic & haunting. Almost surreal.

I'll take the latter music anyday. Taal is in my opinion Rahman's most overestimated celebrated album.

Kal Ho Naa Ho has slowly grown on me (with the exception of "It's the Time to Disco", which - while it has its moments - always feels plain silly in the context of the film or even during casual listening), but my dislike of the film has tainted pretty much all things associated with it (such as the good performances - the only ones in the film - by Jaya Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan). It's not a mature reaction I suppose, but for me, Karan Johar and his mini-empire of selling sentimental love stories have largely outstayed their welcome.



I agree on Devdas; I don't listen to it regularly anymore and I think it's because Darbar doesn't have enough repeat vitality. And as for his Rahman-trashing, that makes my respect for him fall into the negatives. What is this, grade two? It even seems like Darbar is running out of good stuff (Kisna was largely unimpressive); he's best with Bhansali.



I like a few tracks here and there, but you're right. 1999, for me, wasn't such a great year for music.

2005 - Bose
2004 - Swades/Meenaxi
2003 - KHNH in hindi. BOYS/KKS in tamil
2002? - Saathiya
2001? - Lagaan
2000 - Kandukondein x2
1999 - Jeans (i'm guessing the hindi version came out in 1999)
1998 - DIL SE
1997 - ?
1996 - ?
1995 - Bombay
1994 - Hum Se he muqabla
1993 - Rangeela/chor chor
1992 - Roja

let me fill the 97 gap with Pardes and Daud!

Daud has impressive work from Rahman that went unnoticed. He was very unique & crazy in this crazy & fun film!

Pardes is the only, i repeat, THE ONLY Nadeem-Shravan album worth commending! unless I'm missing something. I can't believe the music of this album is by Nadeem-Shravan! I hate them so much, but this album was great

1997 - Ramana Gogulas private album "Aye Layla" - partially hindi, although it's more geared towards international audiences.
here is more on the underrated Ramana: http://www.rediff.com/computer/1999/may/22ramana.htm

96 - DDLJ (though i think it was released in late 95, it was appreciated in 96 the most). good job by the duo

1999 - i would not agree to Jeans (it was terrible IMHO) but dil hi dil mein was good - released in 1999, there were many fun albums that were released during this period. though i can't recollect any of them, thus maybe not worthy of being labled as "best" because you always keep the best ones in your heart, right? or the most repeated, and annoying songs on tv.

you & dragun

1942 A Love Story
Dil Se
Saathiya
Ram Teri Ganga Maili
Yeh Vaada Raha
DDLJ
Ijaazat
Refugee
Bombay
Saagar
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Dil To Pagal Hai
Lagaan
Asoka
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Saajan
Devdas
Pardes

Man...you don't know how poignant it is...especially with the video..aah.

Aajooba is one of the most sensual song out there.

Why do you say its terrible? Any bad tunes? Whats wrong with the music?

Maybe the lyrics in hindi were bad. I love the tamil version.

For me, the highlight in Jeans is the "Kehta Hai Mera Yeh Dil" song, where the computer-generated/projected (?) Aish starts to go nuts and eventually sheds down to a skeleton boogying on the dance floor. It was so absurd I was rolling on the ground for hours, rewinding it again and again.