Arijit Singh (born 25 April 1987)[1] is an Indian playback singer and a music programmer. Born in Jiaganj, Murshidabad, West Bengal, his career began upon participating in the reality show Fame Gurukul (2005), in which he lost at the finals. After winning another reality show called 10 Ke 10 Le Gaye Dil, Singh built a recording setup of his own, beginning his journey with music programming. Subsequently, he went to become assistant music programmer to Pritam Chakraborty, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar and Mithoon.
Singh became more well-known with the release of "Tum Hi Ho" from Aashiqui 2 (2013).[3][4] He was given the Best Male Playback Singer award for the song, in 59th Filmfare Awards. In 2014, he collaborated with Jeet Gannguli—for whom he performed the rest of his tracks in Aashiqui 2 —for CityLights, where he rendered the romantic version of the song "Muskurane", which fetched him most nominations in the year. Gannguli composed "Suno Na Sangemarmar" and Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy's Sufi song, "Mast Magan" garnered him another two nominations in 60th Filmfare Awards.
In 2010, Singh started working with Pritam Chakraborty on three films—Golmaal 3, Crook and Action Replayy.[8] During the time, he started singing scratches on Chakraborty's insistence. In 2011, Singh made his Bollywood music debut with the Mithoon-composition, "Phir Mohabbat" from Murder 2, which was recorded in 2009 though released in 2011.[8][10] The same year, when he was programming the song "Raabta" from Agent Vinod (2012), Chakraborty wanted him to sing the classical arrangement in the song.[8] The part was retained in the four versions of the song, and made him to sing the entire composition in one of the versions.[11] Apart from Agent Vinod, Singh dubbed for Chakraborty in three other films released during the year; Players, Cocktail and Barfi!.[12] He also lent his voice for Chirantan Bhatt in 1920: Evil Returns[13] and for Vishal–Shekhar in Shanghai, where the song "Duaa" from the latter fetched him Mirchi Music Award for Upcoming Male Playback Singer award and was nominated in the same category for "Phir Le Aya Dil" from Barfi!.[14]
Singh rose to widespread prominence with the release of the song "Tum Hi Ho" from Aashiqui 2 (2013). The song fetched him several awards and nominations including Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.[15] He worked with Jeet Gannguli for the rest of his tracks in the album.[16] Gannguli was searching for a "fresh voice" for the film, when he stumbled upon Singh's "Duaa" on YouTube.[8] Singh further allied with Chakraborty, singing "Dilliwaali Girlfriend", "Kabira" and "Ilahi" for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.[17] Other than rendering the encore version of "Kabira", he was associated as the music producer of the track along with "Balam Pichkari" from the same film. Singh considered the period as a "lean phase" which helped him in becoming a "better" musician.[18] The duo collaborated with Shahid Kapoor, performing "Main Rang Sharbaton Ka" from Phata Poster Nikhla Hero and "Dhokha Dhadi" from R... Rajkumar.[19][20] Moreover, he dubbed for Shah Rukh Khan in the song "Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari" from Chennai Express which was composed by Vishal–Shekhar.[21] Apart from rendering the duet version of "Har Kisi Ko" from Boss along with Neeti Mohan,[22] the year marks his collaboration with Sharib–Toshi and Sanjay Leela Bhansali by singing the song "Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse" from Jackpot for the former and the semi-classical number, "Laal Ishq" from Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela for the latter.[23][24] While Singh picked "Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse" as one of his personal favorite songs, he chose "Tose Naina" from Mickey Virus as "closest to his heart".[25][26]
In an interview with The Times of India, Singh mentioned that he has a "natural voice" and when his voice breaks, it recovers automatically; "I don't do anything special to maintain my voice".[65] Shekhar Ravjiani from the music director duo Vishal–Shekhar wrote that Singh's "vocal texture is brilliant. The way he emotes and the soul he puts into each song is exemplary".[66] India Today identifies his voice as "raw and grainy",[67] while International Business Times consider his voice "soothing".[68] Koimoi, in a review, remarked: "Arijit has the quality of getting into the zone and the mood of the song which he sings. Be it a romantic, sad or a peppy number, he voices his best to any".[69] Singh describes his voice as "nasal" and he believed that his voice matches with all the actors.[70] Bollywood Hungama, in a review of Aashiqui 2, described Singh as a singer with a "rich texture and depth in his voice". However they advised Singh to "sing smoothly", without heavy breaths in between.[71]
In an interview, Singh mentioned that he would like to explore classical music style the most.[70]
