Beyond Bollywood: Arijit Singh’s Creative Quest Spurs Exit from Playback Singing, Debuts Independent Shiva Bhajan
When singer-composer Arijit Singh recently announced he would step away from playback singing, the news stunned the country.
But instead of signalling a farewell to music, his move now appears to mark the beginning of a different artistic journey — one driven by experimentation, spiritual expression and creative independence beyond film soundtracks.
In his first major independent step after the announcement, Arijit quietly released a devotional track, Oh Shiv Mere, ahead of Shivaratri.
Rather than a commercial chartbuster, the song is a Shiva bhajan, underlining his intent to explore music unconstrained by cinematic expectations.
Interestingly, despite his massive online following, the singer chose not to promote the release on social media, allowing the composition to reach listeners organically.
Penned by lyricist Kumaar and composed by Mandeep Panghal, the track was uploaded on YouTube on February 9 and quickly crossed one lakh views.
Guitar and instrumental arrangements were handled by Shomu Seal and Swastik Shubham, while the chorus featured Piyush Ranjan, Sakshi Holkar and Sonam Pathak.
Fans reacted with surprise and admiration.
Many described the devotional tone as deeply moving, while others saw it as a sign that Arijit was reinventing himself musically rather than retiring in the conventional sense.
From Playback Icon to Independent Explorer
On January 27, Arijit publicly stated he would not accept new playback assignments.
He thanked listeners for their support and called his film-music journey “wonderful,” but clarified that he would honour previously signed commitments — including songs for the upcoming film Ek Din backed by Aamir Khan.
Soon after, it became clear he wasn’t leaving music — only distancing himself from the industrial framework of Bollywood playback singing.
Through a private social media post, he revealed a desire to devote time to classical and experimental compositions, sparking excitement among followers.
His performance alongside sitarist Anoushka Shankar at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium reinforced this shift.
Singing a composition by Ravi Shankar, Arijit appeared more like a student of music than a superstar — a moment observers described as pure artistry without spectacle.
Music entrepreneur Meghdut Roy Chowdhury later noted that the singer’s humility backstage and devotion to classical traditions reflected a musician seeking growth rather than fame. According to him,
Arijit seemed intent on choosing “art over algorithms.”
Innovation Over Industry
Speculation about internal politics in Bollywood has circulated, yet many within the industry believe a deeper reason lies in creative evolution.
Independent musicians such as Lucky Ali and Palash Sen have supported the move, suggesting the film ecosystem often limits artistic experimentation.
Arijit himself hinted at this direction while confirming future collaborations — including one with Amaal Mallik — but notably “without films.”
The statement signals not withdrawal, but reinvention: continuing music on his own terms.
From devotional compositions to classical explorations and non-film collaborations, the trajectory suggests a musician attempting to innovate rather than repeat past success.
The departure from playback singing, therefore, appears less like an ending and more like liberation from a formula-driven system.
In essence, Arijit Singh has not stepped away from music — he has stepped toward it, seeking depth, experimentation and authenticity beyond the boundaries of Bollywood soundtracks.
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