Mumbai: When Bollywood’s famous singer Arijit Singh gave a hint of quitting playback singing, it felt like an earthquake in the entire industry. The voice on which films used to earn a little more money is now bidding farewell to films. Arijit Singh’s voice has warmed every lover’s heart and provided support to every broken heart for the last decade, which is why his fans were stunned by his sudden announcement of retirement from playback singing. Everyone wants to know what Arijit will do after retirement? Let us understand the 4 biggest theories behind this move of Arijit, which can answer the questions of the fans.
1. Senior journalist Lipika Verma, who has been covering the music industry for the last 4 decades, says that till now Arijit Singh used to sing a song, the film was a hit, the music company used to earn crores, but Arijit used to get only one time ‘fix fee’. In a way, it is also called using it as a ‘free PR tool’. But now Arijit has changed the game. Now he has a fanbase worth crores, he is shifting it to his ‘indie label’ (Orion Music). When Arijit Singh releases his song on his own channel, the ‘IP’ (ownership rights) of that song will be with him, for which whatever royalty will come will go directly into Arijit’s pocket. This is the same model that today’s big actors adopt, that is, make your own film and become your own boss! Recently, Javed Akhtar and Shankar Mahadevan along with many singers and musicians have also created the Gungunalo app. On this app, artists can create and upload their own music and if the makers want to buy it for a film, then they will have to talk to the artist directly and buy the music on their terms. Arijit can also use the same pattern.
2. Sources associated with a big music label say that the interference of corporates and marketing is increasing in many projects in Bollywood. Many times, people more than the music director decide how a singer should sing a song and for an artist like Arijit, it is no less than ‘creative jail’. Arijit is now at that level where he does not need any banner. Retirement means that now he is free from the demands of ‘Masala’ songs. But there is also a fear here. Experts believe that if big names like Arijit are removed, music companies will squeeze ‘cheap and new talent’ even more badly. This means that a new era of exploitation may begin, where good voices will be bought at throwaway prices.
3. Senior journalist and film critic Aarti Saxena said, “In today’s times, playback singing has become just a ‘visiting card’. The real money is not in films, but in ‘stadium concerts’. Arijit is now seeing himself as a global brand. Instead of being locked in the studio for hours for films, he wants to give his time to world tours and live performances and India is a good market for these concerts. More than a song in a film. He can earn from one night show. It is possible that by taking retirement, he can make his live music experience ‘legendary’ for the next generation. If this decision is successful, then some other singers can say bye-bye to playback singing and move towards creating their own existence.”
4. Although this is no longer a theory, rather it is almost confirmed that Arijit is not moving away from cinema, rather he is now making films under his own banner. Soon he will launch his own production house. He wants to make such films which can show his simplicity and deep thinking. He will no longer be the face for others’ songs, but will produce his own films. This means that now under the banner of ‘Arijit Singh Films’ you will get to see stories in which music will touch your soul. It is expected that Arijit becoming a producer will be the answer to the ‘masala’ culture of Bollywood where noise is more than content.
