Arijit Singh returns in a new musical avatar at a concert in Kolkata

On Sunday evening (February 8), Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata erupted with thunderous applause as Arijit Singh walked onto the stage, casually dressed in a kurta, jacket, and jeans, his guitar slung across his shoulders. Just days after announcing his retirement from playback singing, he returned in a strikingly new musical avatar. Sharing the stage with renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar, Arijit unveiled a different side of his artistry.

In viral videos from the concert, he showcased glimpses of his classical training. Arijit joined Anoushka and popular percussionist Bickram Ghosh to sing ‘Maya bhora raati’, a Bengali classic originally sung by Lakshmi Shankar and composed by Pt. Ravi Shankar. He also spoke about visiting Anoushka at her home to compose a song together, before performing a duet with her — ‘Traces of you’, a track she co-created with international star Norah Jones.

The evening hinted at a new chapter in Arijit’s journey: music driven not only by chartbusters, but by versatility. While this shift may disappoint fans of his film hits, it reflects an artiste’s efforts in broadening his horizons. Arijit, already celebrated as one of India’s finest playback singers, now seems intent on exploring music that resonates with his creative spirit.