Best of 2022: Hridayam, Ms Marvel and Qala — Original soundtracks that struck the right chord

From soulful South Asian tunes, to adrenaline pumping beats and fusion tunes that are a mood in themselves — the year 2022 was euphonious. While some soundtracks took us back in time so that we could live the emotions of the characters from an era gone by, others took us to the heart of the action to experience all the chaos and drama on screen.

From Hridayam, Monica, O My Darling, Only Murders in the Building to Mismatched, here’s a look at some of the best OSTs of 2022 which we happily accepted as earworms…

Hridayam (Malayalam): With 15 songs in the tracklist, with voices of veteran singers to fairly new faces, and several talented lyricists, Hridayam is nothing less than a musical extravaganza. With a wide variety of tracks that range from classical to Western, Sufi and Middle Eastern tunes, this is perhaps one of the finest Malayalam music albums.

The Queen’s Gambit Season 2 (English): The rich classical score for this series has been composed by Carlos Rafael Rivera. The OST relies heavily on a full orchestra, piano and violin performances. Little wonder then that it won the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 2022 Grammy Awards. What is noticeable about the soundtrack is that throughout the series, one stays hooked to the sound of a ticking chess timer, around which some of the music is scored. 

Only Murders in the Building Season 2 (English): With 23 original songs composed by Indian-American composer, songwriter, and musician Siddhartha Khosla, what sets this OST apart is that the thematic core is reflected in each piece. The entire season has a distinct musical identity thanks as Khosla has retained the theme through the main title and at many other parts of the show.

Monica, O My Darling (Hindi): All the six tracks in the film seem to reflect the eccentricities of the characters and their deeds. The songs remind one of the glorious 70s and 80s, and highlight the various emotions that the different people in the film feel. The songs by Achint Thakkar seamlessly portray the exact emotions of each character – keeping you immersed in the experience of each person. 

Ms Marvel (English): Five-time Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpmanl’s refreshing soundtrack is packed with South Asian flavours. One is treated to instruments like the mridangam, bansuri, sarangi and sursringar, coupled with Indian and Pakistani artistes, such as singer Ganavya Doraiswamy and violinist Raaginder. Karpman’s use of an orchestra and the Urdu language elevates the OST, which also consists of the song Ko Ko Korina from the 1966 Pakistani film Armaan.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One (Korean): With 21 songs (how apt), the soundtrack of this romantic drama has a complete 90s feel to it, which is perfect, considering that the show is set in that time period. The songs help you really feel like you are in that era, and the one song that stands out in the OST, which is also used extensively throughout the series, is Taeil’s Starlight. The entire album has a breezy feel to it, while being high on nostalgia. 

The Batman (English): The soundtrack of The Batman by Michael Giacchino could not be a better fit for the film. The music perfectly reflects the dark, brooding and moody protagonist of the film, while the background score helps send shivers down your spine. The songs give you a peek into the mind of Batman, reflecting his often dark feelings. 

Qala (Hindi): Amit Trivedi delivers another hit album, one in which each song resonates with the symphony of love. With six songs that range from romantic, soulful numbers to a Bollywood retro song, the soundtrack evokes a range of emotions and moods, leaving you going back for more. 

Everything Everywhere All At Once (English): The action film’s chaos and bustle is enhanced through its soundtrack. Just like the film blends several different genres into one, so does its music. The soundtrack by Son Lux wins by bringing the narrative of the film alive with songs, with post-rock, electronica and operatic influences. 

Mismatched Season 2 (Hindi): The 10-song OST, with names such as Nikhita Gandhi, Ritviz Srivastava, Jasleen Royal and Shashwat Singh, is a treat to the ears. With a ghazal, romantic song and a fusion number, the album has something for all tastes and manages to successfully capture the journey of the lead artistes.