Indian music has always been defined by sur—the precise pitch of notes—and raag, the melodic frameworks that guide the flow of emotion. Even in today’s contemporary Hindi music, whether cinematic or independent, these classical foundations continue to shape the way songs are written, sung, and felt. The interplay of sur and raag provides both structure and soul, giving listeners a subtle yet powerful emotional experience. In Bollywood, Arijit Singh exemplifies the seamless integration of classical principles into modern songs. Take “Laal Ishq” from Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. Composed with Raag Bihag as its melodic foundation, the song captures a serene, romantic mood typical of this raag, often performed in the evening. The rising and falling patterns of the notes create a sense of fluidity, allowing Arijit’s voice to weave through the melody with effortless expression. Another standout, “Channa Mereya” from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, blends classical and Sufi-inspired elements. While i...

By the time Arijit Singh sang his way into the nation’s bloodstream, Bollywood had already changed. And now, with his step back from playback singing, it feels like it’s changing again — this time, without its most reliable emotional compass. For over a decade, Arijit wasn’t just a singer. He was a feeling. When scripts failed to explain love, heartbreak, longing, or quiet surrender, filmmakers reached for his voice the way you reach for a truth you can’t phrase yourself. Soft, aching, endlessly human — Arijit turned songs into confessions. Bollywood has always thrived on voices that define eras. Mukesh carried melancholy, Kishore Kumar embodied chaos and charm, Kumar Sanu romanticized the ’90s. Arijit, though, did something different. He made  vulnerability  mainstream. In an industry built on spectacle, he whispered — and everyone listened. His genius wasn’t just technical. It was emotional precision. Arijit could sound devastated without sounding dramatic, hopeful without s...