Roja – A.R. Rahman (1992)

A.R. Rahman's 1992 debut changed the sound of Indian film music with clean digital recording, layered synthesisers and percussion placed in sharp, wide stereo. Chinna Chinna Aasai, sung by Minmini, is light and joyful, and the rest of the album moves from romance to tension without losing that crisp, modern sound. Start the list here.