Arijit Singh Quits Playback Singing: A Symptom of Hindi Film Music's Emotional Decline
Opinion
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News18•29-01-2026, 23:24
Arijit Singh Quits Playback Singing: A Symptom of Hindi Film Music's Emotional Decline
- •Arijit Singh's decision to step away from film playback singing is seen as a symptom of structural changes in Hindi film music, not just a personal choice.
- •The article argues that Hindi film music has shifted from emotional storytelling to functional categories like 'dance numbers' or 'breakup vibes,' reducing singers to 'sonic compliance officers.'
- •The influence of A. R. Rahman, while liberating composers, inadvertently demoted classical playback singers by prioritizing mood and texture over emotional depth and technique.
- •The industry now rewards 'brand visibility' and 'recognizability' over vocal virtuosity, as exemplified by artists like Farhan Akhtar, where authorship and persona fuse.
- •Arijit Singh, with his deep understanding of music beyond just singing, finds himself structurally out of place in a system that values execution over interpretation, leading to creative boredom and his eventual withdrawal.
Why It Matters: Arijit Singh's exit highlights Hindi film music's shift from emotional artistry to functional, brand-driven content.
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