It was but yesterday when we dished out the most popular numbers of 2015 and now, 2016 is bidding adieu, with the new year all set to take us by storm. Now, we may not have our 2017 resolutions in place yet (count us guilty), but we are ready with the NLT nominations for the most romantic songs of 2016.

Love is the air we breathe at NLT and as we type away to these soulful melodies playing in the background, we cannot help but tell you all about the most worthy contenders of the year (decided upon after an extensive post-mortem of each song played on-loop countless times). Chances are you are listening in on them already and have your favorites in place- but know what, that’s only going to make the voting easier. So, let the voting begin- here are the most romantic songs of 2016, in a cutthroat competition for the NLT Year In Review award in the category, check’em out:

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Suggested read: Here are the most “hearted” celebrity Instagram posts of 2016

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10. Soch Na Sake

Movie: Airlift

This soulful melody, sung by none other than Arijit Singh has Tulsi Kumar backing the female vocals and Amaal Mallik as the composer. A heartwinner in a movie that opened the year with a bang (all thanks to khiladi Akshay Kumar), this one is beautiful through and through. The original version by Hardy Sandhu is a massive hit as well- and if you haven’t heard it already, check it out here:

Our favorite lyrics:

Aankhon ki hai yeh khwahishein

Ki chehre se teri na hatein

Neendon mein meri bas tere

Khwabon ne li hai karwatein

Ki teri or mujhko leke chalein

Ye duniya bhar ke sab raaste

Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon

Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

9. Sanam Re

Movie: Sanam Re

The title track in the Valentine’s special release of the one-time-wonder director Divya Khosla Kumar’s second venture, this one has been composed by Mithoon and sung by Arijit Singh. Of course, Pulkit Samrat and Yami Gautam add to the song’s appeal- after all, put two good looking people in a breathtaking locale and mix in a song sung by the nation’s most heart-ed singer- and you do have an instant recipe for success. Wish you’d had some easy formula for a movie’s success too, eh, Divya? 😉

Our favorite lyrics:

Bheegi bheegi sadkon pe main

Tera intezaar karun

Dheere dheere dil ki zameen ko

Tere hi naam karun

Khudko main yoon kho doon

Ke phir na kabhi paaun

Haule haule zindagi ko

Ab tere hawaale karun

8. Sab Tera

Movie: Baaghi

Maybe I jinxed it last time- but we do have a new male voice on the list, for a change. And one that is no less beloved. Sung by Amaal Mallik with Shraddha Kapoor backing the female vocals, this one has been composed by Mallik himself and has Sanjeev Chaturvedi’s lyrics amping up the impact.

Our favorite lyrics:

Jis pal tu saath mere

Uss pal mein zindagi hai

Tujhe paake paaya sab kuch

Koi khwahish ab nahi hai

Main toh bas tujhse hi bana hoon

Tere bin main bewajah hoon

Mera mujhe kuch bhi nahi

Sab tera, sab tera..

Sab tera, sab tera..

7. Tum Ho Toh

Album: Tum Ho Toh

I jinxed the list for sure- coz we have yet another entrant for the male vocals. Touted as the comeback song of a beloved voice from the 90’s, this beautiful song sung by Shaan is composed by Amaal Mallik and features Saqib Saleem and Taapsee Pannu in the video. The lyrics have been penned by the talented duo Rashmi Virag of Khamoshiyan and Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon fame. The video is directed by Aleya Sen and the music is produced by Bhushan Kumar.

Our favorite lyrics:

Apne dil mein bana ke dhadkan mujhko

Tumhe rakhna hi hoga, darte ho kyun

Paagalpan ki hadein todo na aake

Na jaane tumne khudko roka hai kyun

Main zameen hoon, tum ho akaash mere

Aur thoda aao na paas mere

Ho sake toh rehna tum saath mere

Ho bure ya achhe halaat mere

6. Jag Ghoomeya

Movie: Sultan

I have no words to describe the beauty of this song. With two different versions of the song up for grabs, each equally mesmerizing, in the voices of the extremely talented Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Neha Bhasin, this one is an out-and-out winner from the pen of Irshad Kamil. I wouldn’t be surprised if Vishal-Shekhar walked away with all the awards just for this one!

 Our favorite lyrics:

Na wo akhiyan ruhani kahin

Na wo chehra noorani kahin

Kahin dil wali baatein bhi na

Na wo sajri jawani kahin

Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi

Na toh hansna rumaani kahin

Na toh khushboo suhani kahin

Na woh rangli adayein dekhin

Na woh pyari si nadani kahin

Jaisi tu hai waisi rehna

5. Bol Do Na Zara

Movie: Azhar

Composed by Amaal Mallik and sung by Armaan Mallik, this beautiful song from the Emran Hashmi-Nargis Fakhri starrer Azhar is perhaps the only good thing about the biopic.

Our favorite lyrics:

Hamari kami tumko mehsoos hogi

Bhiga dengi jab baarishein

Main bhar kar ke laaya hoon

Aankhon mein apni

Adhuri si kuch khwahishein

Rooh se chahne wale aashiq

Baatein jismon ki karte nahin

Bol do na zara

Dil mein jo hai chhipa

Main kisi se kahunga nahi

4. Kaun Tujhe Yun Pyaar Karega

Movie: MS Dhoni: The Untold Story

One of my favorites this year, this song by Palak Mucchal is a beautiful rendition of the sentiment we so often express- and pride ourselves for, when in love. Composed by Amaal Mallik (is he on a roll or what) and penned by Manoj Muntashir, this one wins hearts with the melody, the message and of course, Disha Patani’s smile!

Our favorite lyrics:

Tu aata hai seene mein

Jab jab saansein bharti hoon

Tere dil ki galiyon se

Main har roz guzarti hoon

Hawaa ke jaise chalta hai tu

Main ret jaisi udti hoon

Kaun tujhe yun pyar karega

Jaise main karti hoon

3. Channa Mereya

Movie: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Admittedly one of the most soulful melodies in recent times, this beautiful number penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Pritam has been lent a striking edge in the heartwarming voice of Arijit Singh. No wonder it happens to be the favorite song of both Ranbir and Kjo from the movie!

Our favorite lyrics:

Mehfil mein teri

Hum naa rahe jo

Gham toh nahi hai

Gham toh nahi hai

Qisse humaare nazdeeqiyon ke

Kam toh nahi hai

Kam toh nahi hai

Kitni dafaa, subah ko meri

Tere aangan me baithe

Maine shaam kiya

2. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Movie: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Another Arijit Singh classic, the title track from Kjo’s ‘supposed’ biographical film is penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Pritam.

Our favorite lyrics:

Maana ki teri maujoodgi se

Ye zindagani mehroom hai

Jeene ka koi dooja tareeka

Na mere dil ko maaloom hai

Tujhko main kitni

Shiddat se chaahun

Chaahe toh rehna tu bekhabar

Mohtaaj manzil ka toh nahi hai

Ye ek tarfa mera safar, safar

Khoobsurat hai manzil se bhi

Meri har kami ko hai tu laazmi

Adhura hoke bhi

Hai ishq mera kaamil

Tere bina guzara

Ae dil hai mushkil

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Suggested read: The top 10 most viewed songs on YouTube in 2016

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1. Bulleya

Movie: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

A true-to-the-heart song, this one is sheer genius and perhaps, the only one we still haven’t tired of, even after countless rounds! We are playin’it right now and sending out some of the love across to you. Tell us one good reason you shouldn’t be listenin’in as well- Amit Mishra and Shilpa Rao make every word of Amitabh Bhattacharya spring to life!

Our favorite lyrics:

Jis din se aashna se do ajnabi hue hain

Tanhaiyon ke lamhe sab multavi hue hain

Kyun aaj main mohabbat phir ek baar karna chahoon

Ye dil toh dhoondhta hai inkaar ke bahane

Lekin ye jism koi pabandiyan na maane

Milke tujhe bagaawat khud se hi yaar karna chahoon

Mujhme agan hai baaki aazma le

Le kar rahi hoon khud ko main tere hawale

Ve Raanjhnaa…

Ve Raanjhnaa…

If you have zeroed in on a winner (because we don’t see how we can choose from these!), tell us which, among these most romantic songs of the year, should walk away a winner? There’s a comments section below.

P.S. Close call: Bolna from Kapoor & Sons, Salamat from Sarbjit, Itni Si Baat Hai from Azhar, Kuch Toh Hai from Do Lafzo Ki Kahaani, Tere Sang Yaara from Rustom and Tere Bin from Wazir.