Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 13: Veteran singer Anuradha Paudwal and music director Lalit Pandit have reacted to Arijit Singh’s decision to step away from playback singing, a move that has stirred conversations across the music industry and among fans.
The two veterans reflected on Arijit’s artistic journey and the mark he has left on Hindi film music.
Lalit Pandit, who has known Arijit since his stint on the reality show Fame Gurukul, recalled his early days in the industry.
“Arijit is a very young man. I have known him for a long time, since the beginning. He sang his first song for me at Tips. After completing ‘Fame Gurukul’, he came to me for training, and Tips had signed him. I could see that he was talented, and he sang very well,” Pandit said.
“Bass unke jaisa singer aaye toh maza aayega (It would be fun if a singer like him comes),” he added, describing Arijit as a rare talent.
The composer went on to call Arijit Singh the only standout singer to have emerged in recent years. “He adds a lot to the song – the expression, style, voice quality, and the level of singing. There is no one else with a depth in singing similar to Arijit. He outshines everyone,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Anuradha Paudwal termed Arijit’s decision to quit playback singing as a “good decision”.
“If there is a good artist, we want him to go on singing forever. I don’t think he has quit music. If he has quit playback singing, he must be having his own good reason. He is not a person who does anything in the name of fame. If he feels he has achieved what he wanted, that’s it,” she said.
“It is not very easy to give up something when you are at the number one position. It takes a lot of strength and mental stability,” Paudwal added, praising his courage.
In January this year, Arijit Singh announced that he would not take on any new playback assignments. In a message shared on Instagram, he thanked his fans for their unwavering support over the years.
“Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote.
The announcement came as a surprise to fans and colleagues alike, with many taking to social media to express shock and admiration for the singer’s journey.