The Monsoon mixes

Rain has a way of taking us on an overwhelming rollercoaster ride of emotions.

And to cater to all those different emotions, here's a playlist for you that I, as a music fan, can guarantee, will cater to all your monsoon musical needs by language, mood, genre and era! Chances are that you already know all the tracks by heart to not bother with saving this article for a rainy day (winking at my own weak pun!), but what else are you going to do in this pandemic induced lockdown, anyway? So sit back and enjoy this rare opportunity to relax to your favourite playlist right at home.

Let's begin with the most obvious rainy-day stuff — song titles or lyrics with "rain":

·     Bappa Mazumder – Brishti Pore

·     Sheikh Ishtiak – Tip Tip Brishti

·     Srikanto Acharya – Brishti Tomake Dilam

·     Kona – Borosha

·     Raaga – Brishti

·     Artcell – Ei Brishti Bheja Raate

·     Anjan Dutta – Ekdin Brishtite

·     Miles – Rimjhim Rimjhim Brishtite

·     Minar – Jhoom

·     BJ Thomas – Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

·     Guns N' Roses – November Rain

·     Carpenters – Rainy Days and Mondays

·     Rihanna ft. JAY-Z – Umbrella

·     Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

·     Junoon – Garaj Baras

·     OST Gangster – James – Bheegi Bheegi

·     OST Chameli – Bhaage re Mann

·     OST Guru – Barso Re

·     OST Half Girlfriend – Baarish

Model: Manoshi

Songs without an obvious rainy-day theme, but definitely a mention of clouds or the sky somewhere!

·     Prayer Hall – Bhabtei Paro

·     Aurthohin – Anmone

·     Leemon – Aaj Moner Akashe

·     OST Antaheen – Jao Pakhi Bolo

·     OST Monpura – Krishnokoli, Chandana Mazumder – Jao Pakhi Bolo Tare

·     OST Deep Nebhar Aage – Fuad ft. Maher – Shada Kalo

But at this point you're probably wondering, "what's a rainy-day playlist without Satinath Mukherjee's Akash Eto Meghla or Hemanta Mukherjee's Ei Meghla Dine Ekla?"

Imagine being Raj Kapoor or Nargis and sharing an umbrella in the rain while 'Pyaar Hua Iqrar Hua' plays in the background. Or maybe you prefer the 90's – Kajol in DDLJ's superhit 'Mere Khwabo Main!'

Enjoy this small list of "oldie-but-a-goldie" rainy day favourites then:

·     Different Touch – Sraboner Meghgulo

·     Roxette – It Must Have Been Love

·     U2 – With or Without You

·     OST Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997) – Koi Ladki Hain

·     OST Ajnabee (1974) – Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein

·     OST Manzil (1979) – Rimjhim Gire Saawan

Something about the rain's pitter patter or the drop in temperature, or perhaps the moving clouds get us feeling all romantic and cosy.

For those days and nights, make sure to queue the following:

·     Arnob – Shey Je Boshe Achhe

·     Minar – Shada

·     Habib – Esho Brishti Namai

·     Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland – Dilemma

·     James Blunt – You're Beautiful

·     Dido – Thank You

·     OST Hum Tum – Title Track

·     OST Aashiqui 2 – Tum Hi Ho

·     OST Jackpot – Kabhi Jo Badal Barse

However, rain is not always only about romance. Sometimes, it's just a mellow feeling. Maybe a feeling you can't describe or put your finger on. Let music be your language then:

·     Shaker Raza ft. Ashreen Mridha – Akash Hobo

·     OST Bastushaap – Arijit Singh – Tomake Chhuwe Dilam

·     Fuad ft. Armeen Musa – Bhromor Koiyo Giya

·     Ed Sheeran – I See Fire (Kygo Remix)

·     Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved

·     Billie Ellish – Ocean Eyes

·     Justin Bieber – Love Yourself

·     DNCE – TV in the Morning

·     Coldplay – Don't Panic

·     Norah Jones – Come Away With Me

·     OST Waiting – Tu Hai Toh Main Hoon

Just in case you're feeling heartbroken, let this next list be your saviour:

·     Warfaze – Obak Bhalobasha

·     Farooque Bhai Project – Shokaleo

·     Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – We Don't Talk Anymore

·     Kodaline – All I Want

·     Kings of Leon – Use Somebody

·     Motor Sales – Baby Don't Make Me Weep

·     Adnan Sami – Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein

·     OST Gabbar is Back – Teri Meri Kahani

·     OST Fashion – Mar Jaava

If you're feeling pensive about everything in general, maybe try out some folk to soothe yourself. MTV Coke Studio Season 4's take on Lalon Shah deserves a special mention for such moments — the song is Anupom Roy, Satyaki Banerjee and Babul Supriyo's 'Moner Manush.'

Do not fret. In light of the current pandemic, it is natural to feel depressed being stuck at home, or anxious about the future.

For those terribly hopeless phases, try these relatable numbers:

·     Adit – Aj Ei Akash

·     Old School – Aaj Raate Kono Rupkotha Nei

·     Nemesis – Na Ghumoder Gaan

·     Metallica – Nothing Else Matters

·     Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out

·     Linkin Park – In The End (Mellen Gi & Tommee Profitt Remix)

·     ODESZA – How Did I Get Here

Enough with the gloom! Time to put on these feel-good tracks and sing along!

·     Fuad – Nitol Paye

·     Blue Jeans – Akash Aaka

·     OST Hawa Bodol – Mone Porle

·     Arnob – Tor Jonno

·     Pantho Kanai – Nouka

·     OST 3 Idiots – Zoobi Doobi

·     Papon – Chhoti Chhoti

·     Coke Studio Season 9 – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ft. Momina Mustehsan – Afreen Afreen

·     Ustad Sultan Khan ft. K.S.Chithra – Piya Basanti

Come rain or shine, you can't forget Rabindranath, so try Arnob's version of 'Shawan Gagane' and 'Megh Bolechhe Jabo Jabo' alongside Sahana Bajpaie's 'Mor Bhabonare.'

Because of this lockdown, we've gotten back many of our old ideas to pass time with our loved ones. For those days, and on many other occasions too, lyrics can seem superfluous. Which should explain why these following instrumentals are needed on the playlist!

·     Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma – Walking in the Rain

·     Tahsan – Showers of Happiness

·     Yiruma – River Flows in You (there's also an amazing version of this piece on guitar by Miranda Boumedin)

·     OST La La Land – City of Stars

·     Gramatik – Just Jammin'

Here's a fun fact! These rains won't last of course, so for other days of the year when you miss it, you can visit rainymood.com

And just in case you're not a fan of the rain… I hope there's sunshine tomorrow morning and you get to enjoy 'Here Comes the Sun' by The Beatles!