Sona Mohapatra Hails Arijit Singh’s Bold Playback Exit
Singer calls retirement brave, generous, and disruptive for the industry.
Singer Sona Mohapatra has come out in strong support of Arijit Singh’s decision to step away from playback singing, describing his choice as a courageous move toward creative freedom and a much-needed shake-up in the music industry. Arijit announced his retirement from playback assignments on January 27, 2026, via an Instagram note, leaving fans and the industry in shock. In his message, he expressed gratitude for years of love from listeners and declared he would no longer accept new playback projects, calling it the end of a wonderful journey.
Sona Mohapatra responded with an thoughtful Instagram post, reframing the announcement positively rather than mournfully. “Stepping away from playback singing feels less like an exit and more like an arrival into freedom, authorship, and possibility,” she wrote. She praised Arijit for choosing to create on his own terms and making space for emerging voices often sidelined as “scratch singers” or demo vocalists who rarely get the final track.
Addressing the widespread emotional reactions online—where fans called it “the end of an era” and urged him to reconsider—Sona questioned the dramatic response. “Honestly, why are we treating this like an obituary?” she asked. “The man is making music, not disappearing. Why are we so terrified of more flavours, more voices, more imagination?”
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She went further, critiquing the Bollywood music ecosystem’s reliance on “zero-risk formulas.” Sona pointed out how producers often overuse a single voice, underpay or exploit demo singers, exhaust music directors by trying multiple options, and then default to established names like Arijit for guaranteed success. “This choice? It’s brave. It’s generous. It’s disruptive in the best way,” she concluded, wishing Arijit joy, fulfillment, and abundant creativity on his new path.
Sona’s post has sparked fresh debate about creative monopolies, underpayment in the industry, and the need for diversity in playback singing. While many fans continue to express sadness over losing Arijit’s iconic voice in films, voices like Sona’s highlight the potential for this shift to open doors and inspire original, independent music outside the film-dominated structure.
Arijit’s decision marks a significant moment in Indian music, with reactions ranging from heartbreak to admiration for his courage to prioritize personal fulfillment over commercial dominance.
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