Sameer Anjaan blames industry monotony for Arijit Singh's playback singing exit
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TOI ENTERTAINMENT DESK
Lyricist Sameer Anjaan attributes Arijit Singh’s decision to retire from playback singing by January 2026 to industry monotony and a lack of musical diversity. Singh plans to shift his focus exclusively toward independent music creation.
The Shift in Bollywood Playback Culture
Recent statements from veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan have shed light on the evolving landscape of Indian film music, specifically regarding the high-profile decision of Arijit Singh to step back from playback singing. Anjaan, a legendary figure in the music industry known for his prolific contributions, points to a growing sense of creative exhaustion within the studio system. According to Anjaan, Singh’s choice is not an isolated incident but rather a symptomatic reaction to a broader trend of repetitive musical structures that dominate contemporary film soundtracks.
The Crisis of Monotony
At the heart of the critique is the feeling that modern Bollywood music has become increasingly homogenized. Anjaan explicitly noted that "every song sounds the same," a sentiment that suggests a decline in the structural and melodic diversity that once defined the industry. This lack of variety often stems from a commercial pressure to produce standardized content, which limits the artistic freedom of singers. For a performer like Arijit Singh, whose career has been defined by nuance and emotional range, the constraints of current playback requirements appear to have become stifling.
The Impact of Remakes and Recreation
The frustration expressed by Anjaan is further exacerbated by the industry's reliance on 'Dhurandhar' style recreations—the practice of revamping old hits rather than fostering original compositions. By slamming this trend, Anjaan highlights how the industry is recycling its past rather than investing in new, diverse sounds. This creative stagnation creates a cycle where talented artists feel their contribution is reduced to repeating established formulas, ultimately leading to the decision to exit the playback circuit.
A New Direction: Independent Music
While Arijit Singh’s retirement from playback singing is set for January 2026, it does not mark the end of his career. Instead, it signifies a pivot toward independent music. This transition reflects a growing trend among Indian artists who are seeking to bypass the traditional film-music pipeline to maintain greater control over their creative output. By stepping away from the playback constraints, Singh aims to explore musical avenues that are not dictated by the narrative or commercial needs of a film production.
Historical Context and Future Implications
Historically, the Indian film industry has been the primary vehicle for popular music. However, the rise of digital platforms has empowered artists to build audiences independently. Sameer Anjaan, having witnessed decades of industry shifts, contextualizes Singh’s move as a natural progression for a "thoughtful artist." As more high-profile playback singers move toward independent projects, the industry may face a reckoning regarding how it treats creative talent and compensates for artistic originality. The future of Indian music likely depends on whether the film industry can move past its current reliance on monotony and embrace the diversity that artists like Singh are now pursuing independently.