MovieCrow Annual Rankings - Tamil Annual Music Roundup 2021

2021 for Tamil film music was not too bad, considering a sober previous year. Top musical names brought their A-game and gave more than a few memorable albums, songs and scores. We've attempted to highlight some of the best work here.

Top 3 Music Directors

With two massively popular albums, Anirudh rules the roost as 2021's top Tamil music composer. While the chartbusters from Master took even the non-Tamil regions by storm, Doctor one-upped with a phenomenal background score too. Some of the most listened to Tamil songs in 2021 such as Vaathi Coming, Chellama and the uber-popular theme track Soul of Doctor were from these two albums.

A close second this year was Santhosh Narayanan who gave another most popular album of 2021 - Karnan. Chartbusters like Bujji, Rakita Rakita Rakita from Jagame Thandhiram and the background score in Sarpatta Parambarai were some of his other superior works this year. Yuvan Shankar Raja had a packed 2021 and the work that stood out like Maanaadu, Nenjam Marapathillai and his chartbusting version of his father's classic song - Per Vachalum Vaikama Ponalum (Dikkiloona) puts him at number 3 position.

Notable Mentions

Jai Bhim and Sean Roldan's music in it was unmissable this year. D. Imman had a mixed 2021 but two of his albums Teddy and Annaatthe did quite well commercially.  Some of 2021's most soulful music came from Ghibran - be it Anale Anale from Jango or the whole Maara album. This year also saw the entry of Revaa who left an indelible mark with her work in Mugizh. Singer, composer Bharath Sankar turned heads with his fusion of African and Indian sounds in Mandela this year, most prominently with Ela Mandela, Iaino (To Live) and Mandela Tribute.

Side Note: AR Rahman had a lukewarm year with his 99 album going largely unnoticed and except for the Navarasa theme track, the composer did not have a direct Tamil release this year.

Top 3 Tamil Music Directors - 2021

1. Anirudh Ravichander - Master, Doctor
2. Santhosh Narayanan - Karnan, Sarpatta Parambarai, Jagame Thandhiram
3. Yuvan Shankar Raja - Nenjam Marappathillai, Maanaadu 

Top 5 Tamil Music Albums - 2021

1. Master - Anirudh Ravichander
2. Jagame Thandhiram - Santhosh Narayanan
3. Karnan - Santhosh narayanan
4. Doctor - Anirudh Ravichander
5. Maara - Ghibran

Best 5 Tamil Background Score - 2021 (Alphabetical Order)

• Doctor - Anirudh 
• Maanaadu - Yuvan Shankar Raja
• Master - Anirudh 
• Nenjam Marapathillai - Yuvan Shankar Raja 
• Sarpatta Parambarai - Santhosh Narayanan

Best Tamil Playback singer (Male): Sean Roldan - Polladha Ulagathiley (Jai Bhim)
Best Tamil Playback singer (Female): Dhee - Uttradheenga Yeppov (Karnan) 
Best Tamil Lyricist: Yugabharathy (Polladha Ulagathiley - Jai Bhim, Thattaan Thattaan - Karnan)

Top 25 Tamil Songs - 2021

1. Vaathi Coming – Master – Anirudh Ravichander
2. Bujji – Jagame Thandhiram – Santhosh Narayanan
3. Chellamma – Doctor – Anirudh Ravichander
4. Thattaan Thattaan – Karnan – Santhosh Narayanan
5. Yaar Azhaippadhu – Maara – Ghibran
6. Vaathi Raid – Master – Anirudh Ravichander
7. Rakita Rakita Rakita – Jagame Thandhiram – Santhosh Narayanan
8. Theeranadhi – Maara- Ghibran
9. Maalai Varum Vennila – Nenjam Marappathillai – Yuvan Shankar Raja
10. Kandaa Vara Sollunga – Karnan – Santhosh Narayanan
11. Sendumalli – Jai Bhim – Sean Roldan
12. Kadai Kannaaley – Bhoomi – D. Imman
13. Meherezylaa – Maanaadu – Yuvan Shankar Raja
14. Vambula Thumbula – Sarpatta Parambarai – Santhosh Narayanan
15. Lazy Song – Oh Manapenne – Vishal Chandrasekhar
16. Uthira Uthira – Pon Manickavel – D. Imman
17. Yela Yelo  – Mandela – Bharath Sankar
18. Saara Kaattrae – Annaatthe – D. Imman
19. Idhuvum Kadandhu Pogum – Netrikann - Girishh Gopalakrishnan
20. Kaathodu Kaathanen – Jail – G.V. Prakash Kumar
21. Anange – Annabelle Sethupathi – Krishna Kishor
22. Mangalyam – Eeswaran – Thaman S
23. Tum Tum – Enemy – Thaman S
24. Yaazha Yaazha – Laabam – D. Imman
25. Kannum Kannum Pesa Pesa – Thalaivii – G.V. Prakash Kumar